1542 in science
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The year 1542 in science and technology included a number of events, some of which are listed here.
Botany
- Leonhart Fuchs publishes his new herbal De historia stirpium commentarii insignes in Basel.
Exploration
- Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo explores the coast of California.
Physiology and medicine
- Jean Fernel publishes De naturali parte medicinae, presenting human physiology as integral to the study of medicine.{{cite web|title=Jean François Fernel Biography|url=http://www.bookrags.com/biography/jean-francois-fernel/|work=Encyclopedia of World Biography|accessdate=2011-10-28}}
Births
- approx. date – Peder Sørensen, Danish physician (died 1602)
Deaths
- August – Peter Henlein, Nuremberg watchmaker (born 1479/80)