During the Enlightenment, big scientific discoveries changed how people thought about the world in several important ways:

1. From Earth-Centered to Sun-Centered:

   • Before the Enlightenment, people believed that Earth was the center of the universe.
   • Copernicus introduced the idea that the Sun is actually the center (1543). This changed how many viewed the cosmos.

2. Using Evidence and the Scientific Method:

   • Scientists like Francis Bacon and René Descartes promoted the scientific method. This means using observation and experiments to learn about the world.
   • Thanks to this method, Galileo used a telescope in 1609 to study the stars and planets, which went against previous ideas that the heavens were perfect and unchanging.

3. Newton's Laws of Motion:

   • Isaac Newton wrote Principia Mathematica in 1687. In it, he described the laws of motion and how gravity works.
   • His famous equation, $F = ma$ (force equals mass times acceleration), showed that the universe was much more dynamic than previously thought.

4. Improvements in Medicine and Biology:

   • Andreas Vesalius studied human anatomy by dissecting bodies, which helped correct old misunderstandings about how our bodies work.
   • Edward Jenner created the first vaccine in 1796, showing that inoculation could prevent diseases. This changed how people viewed health and sickness.

5. Effects on Religion and Philosophy:

   • With the rise of new scientific ideas, people started to question traditional religious beliefs. This led to a movement called Deism, where people believed in a creator but not necessarily in organized religion.
   • The Enlightenment encouraged folks to seek logical explanations for natural events instead of just relying on religion or superstitions.

In summary, the scientific breakthroughs during the Enlightenment helped form modern science. They challenged old ideas and changed how we understand many areas of knowledge.