democritus

Democritus was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived around 460-370 BCE. He is best known for developing the concept of the atom, proposing that everything in the universe is made up of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms. Democritus theorized that these atoms vary in shape and size, and their movement and arrangement determine the properties of matter. His ideas laid the groundwork for modern atomic theory, long before scientific tools could observe atoms directly. Though many of his ideas were not widely accepted in his time, his work has significantly influenced science and philosophy.