Allan McLeod Cormack facts for kids

Allan MacLeod Cormack (born February 23, 1924 – died May 7, 1998) was a smart physicist from South Africa and later the United States. He is famous for his important work on X-ray computed tomography, which we usually call CT scans. In 1979, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries. He shared this special award with another scientist named Godfrey Hounsfield.

Allan Cormack's Early Life and Education

Allan Cormack was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 23, 1924. As a young student, he went to Rondebosch Boys' High School in Cape Town. He was active in school, joining both the debating and tennis teams.

University Studies

In 1944, Allan earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), in physics from the University of Cape Town. The next year, in 1945, he completed his Master of Science (M.Sc.) in crystallography from the same university. Crystallography is the study of how atoms are arranged in solid materials.

From 1947 to 1949, he continued his studies as a research student at the University of Cambridge in England. While there, he met Barbara Seavey, who was also a physics student from America. Allan and Barbara later got married.

Moving to the United States

After their marriage, Allan Cormack returned to the University of Cape Town in early 1950 to teach. He took a short break to study at Harvard University from 1956 to 1957. After this break, Allan and Barbara moved to the United States.

In 1957, he started working as a professor at Tufts University. By 1966, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. This meant he officially became a U.S. citizen.

Developing the CT Scan Idea

Even though Allan Cormack mostly worked on particle physics (the study of tiny particles that make up everything), he had a special interest in X-ray technology. This interest led him to develop the main ideas behind CT scanning.

How the CT Scan Idea Started

His important work on CT scanning began in early 1956 at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital. He continued this work in mid-1957 after returning from his break at Harvard.

He published his findings in two scientific papers in the Journal of Applied Physics in 1963 and 1964. At first, these papers didn't get much attention. However, everything changed when the first CT scanner was built in 1971.

From Theory to Reality

The first CT scanner was built by Godfrey Hounsfield and his team. They used Allan Cormack's mathematical ideas and calculations to create a real working machine. This machine could take detailed X-ray images of the inside of the body.

Because of his groundbreaking work, Allan Cormack received the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He shared this prestigious award with Godfrey Hounsfield. In 1990, he was also given the National Medal of Science, another high honor for scientists in the U.S.

Family and Legacy

Allan Cormack and his wife, Barbara, had three children: Margaret, Jean, and Robert.

Allan Cormack passed away on May 7, 1998, in Winchester, Massachusetts, due to cancer. A few years after his death, on December 10, 2002, he was honored again. He was given the Order of Mapungubwe from South Africa. This award recognized his amazing achievements as a scientist and for helping to invent the CT scanner.

See also

In Spanish: Allan McLeod Cormack para niños