Galileo is one of the most famous scientists in history, and like many geniuses led an interesting life. Before becoming one of the most well-known men in Europe and changing the world as it was known, Galileo worked as a mathematician and teacher at the University of Padua and ran into some financial problems. He could no longer afford to support his several illegitimate children on his salary and needed some extra money.
In response to the crises, Galileo responded to one of Venice’s problems with a solution. The Venetian government had trouble seeing ships coming in from far away and to know if they were friend or foe. Galileo developed a machine that allowed things to be seen eight times further away than what the naked eye could and sold it. It eventually gained the name the telescope and changed the world.
Galileo redirected his new contraption from ships to the sky and soon discovered that the Sun rather than the Earth is the center of the universe, causing quite the stir within the Church, and all because he had some other kids!