Hans von Helmholtz (physiologist, known for 'conservation of energy')

Hans von Helmholtz was a renowned German physiologist who made significant contributions to science, notably in understanding energy conservation in the body. He demonstrated that biological processes, like muscle movement and nerve activity, follow the same physical principles as mechanical systems, meaning energy is neither created nor destroyed but transformed from one form to another. His work helped bridge biology and physics, emphasizing that the human body operates under the same natural laws as the physical world, which advanced the understanding of physiology and laid groundwork for later scientific developments.