Significant Events on October 17
Birth of Robert Atkins (1930)
On this day in 1930, American physician and cardiologist Robert Atkins was born. He is renowned for developing the Atkins Diet, a controversial dietary regimen that claims to aid in weight loss.
Passing of Alfons Jakob (1931)
In 1931, German neurologist Alfons Jakob passed away. He is primarily recognized for being the first to identify and describe Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, a degenerative neurological condition often referred to as the human form of mad cow disease.
Birth of Mae Jemison (1956)
American physician and NASA astronaut Mae Jemison was born in 1956. During her time as an astronaut, she served as the co-investigator for two research experiments focused on bone cells conducted in space.