Evangelista Torricelli

About Evangelista Torricelli

Evangelista Torricelli, a 17th-century Italian physicist, mathematician, and inventor, is ranked #495 in historical importance by MIT's Pantheon project due to his foundational work in physics. Most famously, he is credited with inventing the barometer, an instrument designed to measure atmospheric pressure, effectively demonstrating the concept of a vacuum above a column of mercury. This contribution was a major step forward in understanding fluids and air pressure, following the work of his mentor, Galileo.

Despite this crucial historical impact, Torricelli's contemporary digital attention appears minimal. He garners approximately 60K Wikipedia views in 2025, placing him at a significant -6x underattention relative to his historical ranking. To put this in perspective, fellow physicist Georg Ohm, ranked lower at #681, still secures over twice his view count at 108K. This highlights a clear disconnect between his recognized importance in the history of science and current online engagement.

Furthermore, the limited attention he does receive appears to be waning; his Wikipedia pageviews show a year-over-year decline of -13.3%, and his Q1 to Q3 momentum suggests a slight further dip (-4%), indicating his influence is fading from the immediate digital spotlight.