What are Gauss’s achievements?

1. Regular heptagon. In 1796, 19-year-old Gauss discovered how to construct a regular heptadagon using only a ruler and a compass. This is the first advancement in polygonal construction since the ancient Greeks over 2,000 years ago. Gauss used algebra to prove his construction, bridging a critical gap between algebra and geometry.

2. The orbit of Ceres. The dwarf planet was originally discovered by astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi in 1800. Ceres disappeared behind the sun before astronomers could calculate its orbit. Gauss created a model called least squares, a method of calculating observational errors that could accurately predict the dwarf planet's position. To this day, this calculation method invented by Gauss remains the preferred method for finding an exact relationship between two variables.

3. Theory of celestial motion. In 1809, Gauss published a treatise on the motion of celestial bodies in space, "Theory of the Motion of Celestial Bodies". The work describes the motion of asteroids disturbed by large planets, simplifying the tedious mathematics of orbit prediction. To this day, Gauss's research remains the cornerstone of astronomical calculations.

4. The first telegraph machine. This may not be Gauss's most famous achievement, but it is quite innovative. In 1833, Gauss and physics professor William Weber invented the first electromagnetic telegraph. At the University of G?ttingen, the two continued to collaborate in the field of magnetism. They built the first telegraph to connect the observatory and the Institute of Physics, a system capable of sending eight words per minute.

5. Solar reflector. From 1818 to 1832, Gauss conducted a geodetic survey of Hannover. During this time he invented the helioscope, an instrument that greatly improved long-distance land surveying. Heliostats use a mirror to reflect sunlight to distant locations, up to hundreds of kilometers away, which can mark locations for surveyors. Unfortunately, this instrument requires clear weather to be effective.