What is one of the contributions of Gilbert in the field of science?

Gilbert's significant contribution to the field of science is the determination that the Earth behaves like a giant magnet. He conducted extensive studies on magnetism in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, publishing his findings in the work "De Magnete." In this work, he described how the Earth has a magnetic field and how this relates to the behavior of magnets. His research laid the groundwork for future studies in geomagnetism and significantly advanced the understanding of magnetic forces in the natural world. This foundational knowledge has implications in various scientific fields, including navigation, geology, and physics.