Who came up with the scientific method?

The scientific method, as we understand it today, was developed over time, with significant contributions from various thinkers. However, philosophers like Galileo Galilei and Francis Bacon are often credited with formalizing its principles in the 16th and 17th centuries. Bacon emphasized empirical observation and experimentation, while Galileo applied systematic experimentation to understand natural phenomena. Their work laid the groundwork for modern scientific inquiry.