Antony Hewish

Date of Birth: May 11, 1924

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: September 13, 2021

Biography

Antony Hewish was a distinguished British radio astronomer and Nobel laureate, renowned for his pioneering work in the field of radio astronomy. Born on May 11, 1924, in Fowey, Cornwall, England, Hewish’s early interest in science was nurtured by his education at King’s College, Taunton, and later at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. His academic journey was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, contributing to the development of radar technology. After the war, Hewish returned to Cambridge to complete his studies and embarked on a career that would see him make groundbreaking contributions to astronomy. He joined the Cavendish Laboratory, where he worked under the tutelage of Martin Ryle, a future Nobel laureate. Together, they developed innovative techniques for radio astronomy, including the use of aperture synthesis. Hewish’s most notable achievement came in 1967 when he and his student Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered the first pulsar, a type of highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation. This discovery was a milestone in astrophysics, providing new insights into the life cycle of stars and the nature of neutron stars. For this work, Hewish was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974, sharing the honor with Martin Ryle. Throughout his career, Hewish received numerous accolades and held several prestigious positions, including the professorship of radio astronomy at the University of Cambridge. He continued his research and teaching until his retirement, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of radio astronomy.

5 Interesting Facts about Antony Hewish

1. Antony Hewish and his student Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered the first pulsar in 1967.

2. Hewish’s work on pulsars earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974.

3. He served in the Royal Aircraft Establishment during World War II, contributing to radar technology advancements.

4. Hewish was a pioneer in the development of aperture synthesis, a technique crucial for modern radio astronomy.

5. He held the position of professor of radio astronomy at the University of Cambridge until his retirement.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Antony Hewish

1. “Science is about exploring the unknown and discovering new phenomena that can change our understanding of the universe.”

2. “The discovery of pulsars was a testament to the power of curiosity-driven research.”

3. “Innovation often comes from the interplay of different fields, as seen in the development of radar technology during the war.”

4. “Radio astronomy allows us to see the universe in a completely different light, revealing phenomena invisible to optical telescopes.”

5. “The journey of scientific discovery is never-ending, each finding leading to new questions and avenues of exploration.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Antony Hewish’s net worth was not publicly documented, but his contributions to science earned him significant recognition and respect in the scientific community.