1539 in science

The year 1539 in science and technology included many events, some of which are listed here.

Botany

 * Hieronymus Bock publishes the first edition of his flora of Germany, the Kreutterbuch, adopting a new system of classification based on his observations.

Cartography

 * Olaus Magnus publishes his Carta marina in Italy, the first detailed map of Scandinavia.

Exploration

 * May 30 – Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay, Florida.
 * August–September – Francisco de Ulloa explores the Gulf of California.

Medicine

 * Johannes Baptista Montanus is appointed professor of medicine at the University of Padua where he introduces clinical medicine, including bedside examination, into the curriculum, integrating theory and practice.

Births

 * September/October – José de Acosta, naturalist (died 1600)
 * exact date unknown – Olivier de Serres, soil scientist (died 1619)

Deaths

 * August – Vannoccio Biringuccio, Italian metallurgist (born 1480)