1705 in science

Astronomy

• Edmond Halley, in his Synopsis Astronomia Cometicae, states that comets seen in 1456, 1531, 1607, and 1682 were actually a single comet and correctly predicts that it will return in 1758.

  Life sciences

• Dutch lepidopterist Maria Merian publishes Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium.
• French anatomist Raymond Vieussens publishes Novum vasorum corporis humani systema, considered an early classic work on cardiology.
• French surgeon Jean Louis Petit publishes L'Art de guerir les maladies des os, the first significant work on bone disease.

  Other events

• April 16 – Isaac Newton is knighted by Anne, Queen of Great Britain.

  Births

• February 22 – Peter Artedi, Swedish naturalist
• April 11 – William Cookworthy, English chemist
• June 21 – David Hartley, English physician and psychologist
• undated – Charles Labelye, Swiss engineer
• undated – Thomas Boulsover, English inventor
• undated – Faustina Pignatelli, Italian mathematician

  Deaths

• January 17 – John Ray, English naturalist
• August 16 – Jakob Bernoulli, Swiss mathematician
• October 11 – Guillaume Amontons, French scientific instrument inventor and physicist
• November 10 – Justine Siegemund, German midwife