John C. Mather facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Cromwell Mather
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Mather in 2015
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| Born | August 7, 1946 Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Swarthmore College (BS) University of California, Berkeley (PhD) |
| Known for | Cosmic microwave background radiation studies |
| Awards | Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics (1993) Nobel Prize in Physics (2006) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrophysics, cosmology |
| Institutions | NASA University of Maryland Columbia University |
| Thesis | Far Infrared Spectrometry of the Cosmic Background Radiation (1974) |
| Doctoral advisor | Paul L. Richards |
| Signature | |
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John Cromwell Mather (born August 7, 1946) is an American astrophysicist and cosmologist. This means he is a scientist who studies space, stars, and the universe. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his important work on the Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite (COBE) with George Smoot.
The COBE satellite helped scientists understand the Big Bang theory better. The Big Bang theory explains how the universe began. The Nobel Prize committee said that the COBE project made studying the universe a very exact science.
Mather is a top astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Maryland. He is also a professor of physics at the University of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. In 2007, Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in The World. In 2012, Time magazine again listed him as one of the 25 most influential people in space.
John Mather was also the lead scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) from 1995 until 2023. This powerful telescope helps us see far into space and learn more about the universe. Jane Rigby took over his role in 2023. In 2014, Mather gave a speech about the James Webb Space Telescope at a big science event called the Starmus Festival.
Contents
Becoming a Scientist: John Mather's Education
John Mather studied physics at college and university. He worked hard to become the scientist he is today.
Early Schooling and College
- In 1964, he finished Newton High School in New Jersey.
- In 1968, he earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Physics from Swarthmore College. He graduated with very high honors.
University Studies and Research
- In 1974, he earned his Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley.
- From 1974 to 1976, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. This means he continued his research after getting his Ph.D.
Awards and Recognitions
John Mather has received many awards for his amazing work in science. Here are some of the most notable ones:
- 1993: American Astronomical Society and American Institute of Physics Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
- 1997: Became a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
- 1999: Received the Franklin Institute Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics.
- 2006: Won the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation Prize in Cosmology.
- 2006: Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the COBE satellite.
- 2007: Received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- 2020: Was named a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society.
- 2023: Received the Joseph Priestly Award from Dickinson College.
Images for kids
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John Mather's signature
See also
In Spanish: John Mather para niños
