I'm south of you and gosh dogs it was cold yesterday. This weekend looks like more of the same. Too cold for here.
I'm counting the days until spring, I can't wait for this crap to be over but unfortunately it's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better. :(
No, sorry. I don't think any scientific mind can be said to be "most influential". They all were influential in their field, but most just built on each other. True Darwin could be said to have invented a field of science, but I am sure even he was influenced by someone else.
Just my humble opinion.