8 Ground-Breaking Discoveries You Didn't Know Were Made By Women

2. Francoise Barre-Sinoussi: Identified HIV... Fast

During the 80s, HIV began spreading through injecting drug users and the gay community like wildfire, but nobody knew what it was. All they knew is that certain groups of previously healthy people were suddenly suffering from a severely compromised immune system. It was eventually given the name Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), but still no one knew the cause. It was at this time that Francoise Barre-Sinoussi was studying a particular group of viruses known as retroviruses. Her knowledge allowed her to quickly recognise that this was the cause of AIDS, a virus she called human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Her quick work enabled the swift development of tests and treatments of the disease and probably saved thousands of lives. She has since been active in a wide range of AIDS organisations around the world, became President of the International AIDS Society and, in 2009, wrote an open letter criticising the Pope on his stance on condoms. Basically, she's a total badass who saved thousands of lives and doesn't mind telling the Pope off.