Weizsäcker

Hans Albrecht Bethe Weizsäcker was a German theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate, born on March 20, 1909, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He is best known for his contributions to nuclear physics, particularly in the understanding of stellar energy production and the structure of the atom. Weizsäcker earned his doctorate in physics from the University of Göttingen in 1930, where he studied under the renowned physicist Max Born.

During World War II, Weizsäcker worked on the German military’s atomic research program, the Uranverein, alongside other prominent scientists like Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann. His work during this period included theoretical studies on nuclear fission, which later influenced the development of the atomic bomb. After the war, he was one of the signatories of the Einstein-Weizsäcker Memorandum, a plea to President Harry S. Truman to prevent the use of atomic weapons.

Weizsäcker later became a professor at the University of Göttingen and later at the University of Heidelberg, where he continued his research in nuclear physics and astrophysics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1967 for his work on the theory of energy production in stars, particularly his explanation of the proton-proton chain reaction, which powers the Sun and other stars. His research also included studies on the structure of the atom and the behavior of nuclei.

Beyond his scientific contributions, Weizsäcker was deeply involved in humanitarian and political causes. He served as a member of the German Parliament during the early years of the Federal Republic of Germany and was a vocal advocate for disarmament and peace. He passed away on March 13, 2017, in Heidelberg, Germany, leaving a lasting legacy in both scientific and humanitarian fields.