Jeanne Baret was a botanist in a day when women weren't recognized in the fields of science. It was also against French law for a woman to travel on naval ships, but she did it anyway. In 1766, she sneaked on board the first French ship to sail around the world in order to accompany renowned botanist Philibert Commerson, who was her mentor and lover. Together they collected 6,000 plant specimens, including Bougainvillea, which was named after the ship's captain, Louis Antoine de Bougainville. Seventy other species were named after Commerson, but none for Baret. Until now. A new species, Solanum baretiae, was recently named in her honor. It only took 250 years. More information at Physorg.com.
-- Kym Pokorny