Jagadish Chandra Bose (30 November 1858 – 23 November 1937) was a polymath with interests in biology, physics, botany and writing science fiction and made significant contributions to botany. He was not awarded the Nobel Prize. Despite his contributions and break throughs on wireless connectivity, the Nobel Prize in physics for wireless was awarded to Guglielmo Marconi in 1909.

Famous experiment —
Bose made pioneering discoveries in plant physiology. He used his own invention, the crescograph, to measure plant response to various stimuli.
Jagadish Chandra Bose discovered that plants can move in response to stimuli, such as exposure to light, fertilizers, or poisons. He invented a device called a crescograph that could measure very small motions in plants and used it to measure plant motion that was caused by exposure to various stimuli.
The experiment was conducted by Bose at the Royal Society of London in 1901 demonstrated that just like humans, plants too have feelings.

Bose was an Indian polymath, made significant contributions to various fields, particularly in plant physiology and physics. Here are some of his contributions in the field of modern science:

• 1. Microwaves and Radio Waves
  – Bose was a pioneer in the field of radio and microwave optics. He conducted extensive research on the propagation of electromagnetic waves and was one of the first to demonstrate the generation and reception of radio waves.
  – In 1895, Bose conducted a public demonstration of wireless communication using radio waves, preceding Guglielmo Marconi’s more famous experiments by a few years. However, Bose did not commercialize his inventions, focusing instead on scientific exploration.
• 2. Plant Physiology
  – Bose is renowned for his groundbreaking work in plant physiology. He developed highly sensitive instruments, such as the crescograph, to measure plant responses to various stimuli.
  – Through his experiments, Bose demonstrated that plants have the ability to feel pain and respond to various environmental factors, challenging the then-prevailing notion that plants were insentient.
• 3. Semiconductor Research
  – Bose’s work on the response of metals to electromagnetic waves laid the foundation for the development of semiconductor technology. His research demonstrated the use of semiconductors to detect radio waves, which was an early step toward the development of modern electronics.

4. Biophysics
– Bose’s interdisciplinary approach led to the merging of biology and physics, creating the field of biophysics. His studies on the electrical nature of cell membranes and the transmission of electrical impulses in plants were pioneering.

• 5. Scientific Instruments
  – Bose invented several instruments to aid in his research, including the crescograph and the Boseian crescograph, which amplified the minute movements of plants and enabled detailed study of their growth patterns and responses.

Bose’s work has had a lasting impact on both the physical and biological sciences, influencing future research and technological advancements. His interdisciplinary approach and innovative thinking continue to inspire scientists today.