Nobel Laureates in Physics and Chemistry

Fred Hoyle, a British astrophysicist, proposed that most chemical elements are produced within stars through a series of nuclear reactions.

Hoyle supported the steady-state theory, suggesting a constant universe density with continuous matter creation as it expands. He used the term "Big Bang" but viewed it disparagingly.

Katherine Johnson was a crucial American mathematician who calculated trajectories for various space missions, including those for Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

She worked at NASA from 1953, initially performing manual calculations, and contributed to the Apollo 11 Moon mission by planning the launch site and flight path.

Irene Uchida, a Canadian medical geneticist, researched the impact of genes and chromosomes on health, focusing on chromosome differences in genetic disorders and congenital abnormalities.

Uchida's work covered various conditions, including congenital heart disease and Down syndrome caused by an extra chromosome. She also studied chromosome changes due to X-rays.

Canadian engineer Yvonne Brill developed a propulsion system that keeps unmanned spacecraft in stationary orbit, contributing to weather satellites, Mars missions, and space shuttle technology.

Abdus Salam, born in Pakistan, developed the electroweak theory, unifying the weak interaction between subatomic particles with the electromagnetic force, which predicted the existence of messenger particles for the weak interaction.

The Higgs field is a theoretical field that permeates space and gives mass to elementary particles. According to Higgs's theory, particles gain mass by interacting with this field.

The Higgs boson is a fundamental particle predicted to exist by Peter Higgs' theory. Its discovery in 2012 confirmed the existence of the Higgs field. It is associated with the Higgs field that gives mass to particles.

Eric Kandel's research focused on understanding how memory and learning occur at the level of nerve cells. He used sea slugs with simple nervous systems to study synapses (points where nerve signals are transmitted).

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were widely used in refrigerants and aerosols. Molina and Rowland showed that CFCs break down ozone in the stratosphere, leading to the depletion of this protective layer.

Lap-Chee Tsui's research focused on genetic diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis. His team discovered the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis, paving the way for genetic therapies.

Donna Strickland co-developed Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA), a revolutionary laser technique, with Gérard Mourou. This method allows for the creation of extremely short and intense laser pulses.

Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, preventing damage to DNA. Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres. Greider's work has been crucial in understanding how telomeres are involved in aging and cancer.

Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space. She traveled on the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992 and was also a medical doctor and Peace Corps volunteer.