Science and technology in the United Kingdom

Major theorists from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland include Isaac Newton whose laws of motion and illumination of gravity have been seen as a keystone of modern science and Charles Darwin whose theory of evolution by natural selection was fundamental to the development of modern biology.

Major scientific discoveries include hydrogen by Henry Cavendish, penicillin by Alexander Fleming, and the structure of DNA, by Francis Crick and others.

[2] The United Kingdom led the Industrial Revolution from the 18th century,[3] and has continued to produce scientists and engineers credited with important advances.

The United Kingdom plays a leading part in the aerospace industry, with companies including Rolls-Royce playing a leading role in the aero-engine market; BAE Systems acting as Britain's largest and the Pentagon's sixth largest defence supplier, and large companies including GKN acting as major suppliers to the Airbus project.

[citation needed] Scientific research and development remains important in British universities, with many establishing science parks to facilitate production and co-operation with industry.