Daniel du Toit
publication date: Friday, September 2, 2022 (part of Summer 2022)
category: 
Science
clue: This comet-hunting astronomer went out of his way to prove the point of his final lecture.
explanation: du Toit, who discovered five comets in his career, died by choking on a peppermint immediately after concluding a college lecture about how death can come at any time. more…
intended difficulty: very hard
solved by: Russ Wilhelm and Steve West
Similar Goos
Claudius Ptolemy
For almost 2000 years, this Greek mathematician's treatises have been the intersection between astronomy and astrology. Go »
Fritz Haber
Half of the world is alive today thanks to this chemist's genius, but few showed up to see him accept his Prize after his war-changing invention the year before. Go »
Steph Tyler
She continued her work during the eight months that she and her expedition (including her family) were held in captivity in Ethiopia, and made several subsequent trips abroad that collectively earned her an MBE, making her an an ill-fated skipper who still feels chipper at remaining a tripper to study more dippers. Go »
Albert Einstein
Not even an atom bomb could undo the relativity of this genius's work. Go »
Nicolaus Copernicus
Heliocentrism may be true, but don't call him Saint Nick. Go »
