Heinrich Rohrer

Date of Birth: June 6, 1933

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: May 16, 2013

Biography

Heinrich Rohrer was a distinguished Swiss physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nanotechnology. Born on June 6, 1933, in Buchs, St. Gallen, Switzerland, Rohrer is best known for his co-invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM), a groundbreaking tool that allowed scientists to visualize surfaces at the atomic level. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986 with Gerd Binnig for this revolutionary invention. Rohrer earned his doctorate in physics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) in 1960. After a brief stint in the United States, he joined the IBM Research Laboratory in Zurich in 1963, where he remained for the majority of his career. At IBM, he worked alongside Binnig to develop the STM, which paved the way for the burgeoning field of nanotechnology. Heinrich Rohrer was not only a brilliant scientist but also a dedicated mentor and advocate for scientific research. His work has had a lasting impact on various scientific disciplines, from physics to materials science.

5 Interesting Facts about Heinrich Rohrer

1. Heinrich Rohrer and Gerd Binnig’s invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986.

2. Rohrer completed his doctoral thesis under the supervision of Professor Wolfgang Pauli, a notable physicist and Nobel laureate.

3. The STM was the first instrument that allowed scientists to “see” individual atoms on a surface.

4. Rohrer was a passionate advocate for scientific collaboration and often emphasized the importance of teamwork in research.

5. He held honorary doctorates from several prestigious institutions, including the University of Basel and the University of Lausanne.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Heinrich Rohrer

1. “Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.”

2. “To have a great idea, have a lot of them.”

3. “Trust and faith are important in every form of teamwork.”

4. “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.”

5. “Nanotechnology will let us build things that are now only possible in our imagination.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Heinrich Rohrer’s highest net worth achieved was not publicly disclosed, as he was primarily known for his contributions to science rather than personal wealth accumulation.