[1] Babinet started his studies at the Lycée Napoléon, but was persuaded to abandon a legal education for the pursuit of science.

A graduate of the École polytechnique, which he left in 1812 for the Military School at Metz, he was later a professor at the Sorbonne and at the Collège de France.

He designed and created many scientific instruments utilized to determine crystalline structure and polarization properties, including the polariscope and an optical goniometer to measure refractive indices.

Expanding his fascination of diffraction to meteorology, Babinet spent a significant amount of time in the study of rainbows.

His astronomical research focused on Mercury's mass and the Earth's magnetism, while his inventions included valve improvements for air pumps and a hygrometer.