The Brilliant Climate Scientist History Forgot 0

Why Eunice Newton Foote’s legacy matters—especially now.

By Lindsay H. Metcalf, author of Footeprint: Eunice Newton Foote at the Dawn of Climate Science and Women's Rights

It’s been almost 170 years since Eunice Newton Foote discovered carbon dioxide’s atmosphere-warming properties—what we now know as the greenhouse effect. It’s about time the world discovered her.

A smattering of articles have noted her groundbreaking backyard experiment measuring the sun’s effect on various gases since 2011, when a retired petroleum geologist unearthed Foote’s 1856 research. But drive-by summaries paint an incomplete picture of a woman whose work and life intertwined with women’s rights activism and industrialization—the cradle of climate change.

Eunice grew up in East Bloomfield, New York. Her parents, modest farmers, scrimped together money to send her to a boarding school that offered revolutionary science classes to girls. Through her roommate, a sister to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eunice became associated with the Cady family.

Eunice married Elisha Foote, a young patent lawyer who was also connected with Cady family. The pair began their life together in Seneca Falls, New York, where Eunice spent time inventing and experimenting in the Footes’ home lab.

As a woman, she couldn’t legally patent her first invention—a stove with a thermostat. So her husband did, in 1842. Eunice was reported as the inventor in The Lily, the women’s newspaper edited by Amelia Bloomer. Eunice was bursting with ideas she wanted to share with the world, but first, the world would have to recognize her agency as a woman. Thus began Eunice’s fight for women’s rights.

Her friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the first women’s rights convention in 1848 in Seneca Falls. Eunice and Elisha both attended and signed the Declaration of Sentiments demanding the vote for women. Eunice also helped to publish the declaration in Frederick Douglass’ newspaper, The North Star.

A few years later, Eunice conducted her gases experiment. Fossil records had shown that the world had once been warm, and she wanted to know how. Eunice knew that limestone had been found to hold trapped carbon dioxide. Through her experiment, she concluded, “An atmosphere of that gas would give to our earth a much higher temperature.”

Eunice needed to get her discovery in front of the new American Association for the Advancement of Science. But a man would have to present her paper.

That man was Joseph Henry, the original secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Elisha Foote had known Henry since he taught Elisha as a teen in Albany. So Henry presented Eunice’s paper at the 1856 AAAS convention, and the next-day’s newspaper ran a tepid write-up admitting that Eunice “must be a charming person,” but her research “would hardly interest your readers.”

Eunice and Elisha continued to tinker in their lab, each earning patents for multiple inventions such as squeak-free rubber insoles (Eunice) and ice skates (Elisha). A few years after the Civil War, President Ulysses Grant appointed Elisha as US patent commissioner. Elisha directed which inventions would receive patents during the height of industrialization. His own brother, Henry R. Foote, earned one of the first patents for oil as a vehicle fuel—for a steamboat engine. The family of the first person to predict a warming climate contributed to its genesis.

History’s butterfly effect is wild. What if the world had listened to women of Eunice’s time? What if the world had taken her climate discovery seriously? Would people have been more cautious with their adoption of fossil fuels? Would we be struggling with human-caused climate change today?

Eunice’s story deserves space in our understanding of history. Likewise, the field of climate science demands space in public discourse. The Trump administration has taken drastic steps to erase documentation of human-caused climate change, first by scrubbing federal websites and documents of climate-change references and data, and most recently, by taking steps to shutter the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

My forthcoming novel-in-verse, Footeprint: Eunice Newton Foote at the Dawn of Climate Science and Women’s Rights, attempts to correct the record, at least for Eunice. With one notable gap.

Because history rendered Eunice invisible, we don’t know what she looked like. (Don’t Google her; many images attributed to her are actually her daughter Mary or unidentified.)

But I think I found her.

(Dudley Observatory Dedication, August 28, 1856, Tompkins Harrison Matteson, 1857. Image from Wikimedia Commons.)

A painting by Tompkins Harrison Matteson depicts an observatory dedication that coincided with the 1856 AAAS convention where Eunice’s climate paper was featured. Dozens of scientists pose stiffly in the painting, entitled “Dudley Observatory Dedication, August 28, 1856.” Many remain unidentified by scholars.

(Detail of Dudley Observatory Dedication, August 28, 1856, Tompkins Harrison Matteson, 1857. Albany Institute of History & Art. Photo by Lindsay H. Metcalf.)

One unidentified couple sits prominently onstage. The man looks like a young Elisha Foote—with the same beard, glasses, and build shown in a confirmed 1860s photograph. The woman beside him echoes Eunice’s physical description from her passport and resembles their daughter Mary.

(Photograph of Judge Elisha Foote from Wikimedia Commons.)

(Mary Foote Henderson image from Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.)

I showed the painting to historians. Leif HerrGesell, former director of the East Bloomfield Historical Society in Eunice’s hometown, called the image a “dead ringer.” Sam McKenzie, who self-published a biography of Eunice, said, “I think this is called . . . a scoop.”

Still, historians are cautious to confirm the image, and rightly so. If this is Eunice, it would be the first portrait of her ever identified. Either way, her legacy is finally visible. 

It’s futile to speculate what might have happened with fossil fuels and climate change if the public had known of Eunice’s carbon dioxide discovery earlier. What is worthwhile? Making sure that climate science remains visible and accessible—while we still can.

Lindsay H. Metcalf is the author of Footeprint: Eunice Newton Foote at the Dawn of Climate Science and Women’s Rights, a young adult novel-in-verse releasing February 10 from Charlesbridge Publishing.

Footeprint

Eunice Newton Foote at the Dawn of Climate Science and Women's Rights

A fascinating novel-in-verse for young adults capturing the discoveries of Eunice Foote, a remarkable woman in science WAY ahead of her time.

Discover the extraordinary life and work of Eunice Newton Foote: The woman who identified carbon dioxide as a cause of climate change in 1856 (!) when most people preferred that women be seen rather than heard. This lightly fictionalized novel-in-verse account finally gives her the credit she deserves for her groundbreaking work.

Eunice’s most important discovery was recognizing the effect of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: a warming planet. But in a society driven by coal, kerosene, and crude oil, Eunice’s warnings went unheeded. After all, who would listen to a woman—especially a woman known to consort with suffragists?

From the Seneca Falls Convention to the halls of the US Patent Office in Washington, DC, Eunice Newton Foote blazed a trail for independence and inquiry. Today Eunice’s discoveries feel ever more prescient. She knew that reliance on fossil fuels would have a devastating effect. Today she is finally receiving the credit she deserves. Perfect for teenagers interested in STEM and the Age of Steam.

Be sure to check out the downloadable for a free discussion guide.

7 Children's Books to Celebrate Jewish Book Month 0

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jewish Book Month, it’s the perfect time to honor stories that nurture identity, community, and connection. Below is a curated collection of Charlesbridge titles that shine with faith, family, friendship, and interwoven cultures, offering meaningful reads for this milestone month and beyond.

A Moon for Moe and Mo

Written by Jane Breskin Zalben; illustrated by Mehrdohkt Amini

When Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, overlaps with the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, two boys forge an interfaith friendship.

Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail

Written by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Susan Gal

Celebrated author Lesléa Newman unites a young boy and a stray kitten in a warm, lyrical story about Passover, family, and friendship.

The Golden Dreidel

Written by Ellen Kushner; illustrated by Kevin Keele

This rollicking adventure steeped in Jewish folklore and tradition will delight youngsters both excited and reluctant about the holidays.

Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story

Written by Fran Manushkin; illustrated by Kris Easler

A cat and dog create a Hanukkah miracle, just in the nick of time in this updated reissue of the beloved holiday classic.

On Friday Afternoon: A Shabbat Celebration

Written by Michal Babay; illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt

The Friday afternoon mitzvot turn into a rambunctious picture book adventure as their family gets ready for Shabbat!

Gingerbread Dreidels

Written by Jane Breskin Zalben; illustrated by Thai Phuong

Chanukah and Christmas come together in this story of an interfaith, intergenerational family's blended holiday.

Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story (Preorder Now!)

Written by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Sarita Rich

As Lizzie participates in the Jewish customs of mourning for the first time, she begins to understand a new side of friendship. Maybe all Joshua needs right now is someone to listen.

You can find Charlesbridge's full list of Jewish books here.

As we mark this special centennial year, these picture books remind us why stories matter. How they help children honor their own traditions, discover the beauty in others, and feel connected to something larger than themselves. May these books continue to spark conversations, nurture empathy, and bring families together all year long.

Moving Tips from Lola 0

Moving Tips from Lola! Don't move house until you read this. 

5 Picture Books to Soothe the First-Day Jitters 0

Going to school for the first time—or even returning—can be intimating for students. They get the jitters and don’t know what to do with them. Back-to-school books like First Day Jitters face those butterflies head-on in a humorous way, acting as a heartwarming reminder that teachers get the jitters, too.

This beloved picture-book supports social-emotional learning by helping children recognize their feelings and understand how those around them—like their family, friends, and teachers—can help ease their worries. This relatable read is the perfect conversation starter for any child facing the jitters.

Once they've had a successful first day at school, download the Certificate of Courage to celebrate their bravery. And, they can have fun filling out the First Day Memories page!

Pair these These four picture books  with First Day Jitters to help your child confidently go to school, not just on first day, but any time of the school year.

Lola Goes to School

Lola Goes to School is a comforting and cheerful picture book that explores the school day and it's new routine for first-time students. In this sweet story, Lola prepares for the day, plays, learns, and says goodbye on her first day at school. The perfect book for children who wonder what will happen on the big day!

A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices

The jitters aren't just for students who are experiencing school for the first time, but for older students too. A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices introduces a diverse group of six children ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. Each child prepares for the new school year with not just nerves, but excitement too as they hustle in the morning, meet new teachers and new classmates during the day, and head home at the end of the day.

Each child shares a different perspective as they share their worries, hopes, and success on the first day of the school year.

I'm New Here

I'm New Here is a great way to prepare your child for meeting new classmates. Following three immigrant students from Guatemala, Korea, and Somalia, the story explores the challenges of learning a new language and adjusting to a new school while holding on to one's cultural roots. With the support of kind classmates and teachers, each child finds their voice and place in the classroom. A wonderful picture book for immigrant students, new students, and even children preparing to welcome someone new to their classroom.

A warm and reassuring resource to help children understand what it means to welcome others, build cross-cultural friendships, and create a community where everyone feels seen, safe, and valued.

Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen

New kids sharing their culture will appreciate Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen, a picture book about identity and courage while being in a new environment. Rostam moved to the U.S. from Iran and he's nervous about wearing his traditional pusteen for school pictures. This gentle, relatable story explores the social-emotional challenges of fitting in while staying true to yourself.

Encouraging young children to celebrate what makes them unique and to embrace the differences in others, too. A thoughtful reminder that sharing your story can help others feel brave enough to share theirs.

All of these heartfelt stories foster empathy, confidence, and inclusion, making them perfect companions for the new school year as your child learns to navigate friendships, learn to express themselves, and celebrate what makes everyone unique.

Other Charlesbridge favorites include:

Someone New, a companion story to I'm New Here
Clothesline Clues to the First Day of School
Chicken Soup for the Soul BABIES: No School for Me! (Change Is Hard)
Did You Burp? How to Ask Questions (or Not!)
Counting Kindness: Ten Ways to Welcome Refugee Children

For more back-to-school books, check out our collection.