1706 in science

The year 1706 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Mathematics

William Jones publishes [https://archive.org/stream/SynopsisPalmariorumMatheseosOrANewIntroductionToTheMathematics/Synopsis_Palmariorum_Matheseos#page/n5/mode/2up Synopsis palmariorum matheseos or, A New Introduction to the Mathematics, Containing the Principles of Arithmetic and Geometry Demonstrated in a Short and Easie Method ... Designed for ... Beginners] in which he
proposes using the symbol π (the Greek letter pi, as an abbreviation for perimeter) to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.
introduces John Machin's quickly converging inverse-tangent series for π (pi), enabling it to be computed to 100 decimal places.{{MacTutor Biography|id=Machin}}

Francis Hauksbee produces his 'Influence machine' to generate static electricity.{{cite book|authorlink=James Burke (science historian)|first=James|last=Burke|title=Connections|location=London|publisher=Macmillan|year=1978|page=75|isbn=0-333-24827-9}}

Johann Jakob Scheuchzer begins publication in Zürich of his Beschreibung der Naturgeschichten des Schweitzerlands giving an account of the natural history and geology of Switzerland.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/132665#page/9/mode/1up Volume 1].
Giovanni Battista Morgagni publishes [https://books.google.com/books?id=x8E-AAAAcAAJ Adversaria anatomica],Online edition: 1762 the first in a series in which he describes his observations of human anatomy.

January 17 – Benjamin Franklin, American scientist and inventor, known for his experiments with electricity (died 1790)
January 28 – John Baskerville, English printer and inventor (died 1775)
February 11 – Nils Rosén von Rosenstein, Swedish pediatrician (died 1773)
May 12 – François Boissier de Sauvages de Lacroix, French physician and botanist (died 1767)
June 10 – John Dollond, English optician (died 1761)
December 17 – Émilie du Châtelet, French mathematician and physicist (died 1749)
Date unknown – Giuseppe Asclepi, Italian astronomer and physicist (died 1776)