Phyllis S. Freier facts for kids

Phyllis S. Freier (born January 19, 1921, died December 18, 1992) was an amazing American scientist. She was an astrophysicist, which means she studied space and the universe. She was also a respected member of important science groups, like the American Physical Society. Dr. Freier even worked on committees for NASA, the space agency!

One of her biggest discoveries was proving that cosmic rays contain elements heavier than helium. She made this discovery while still a student. Her important work was published in a science journal in 1948.

Her Early Life and Studies

Phyllis St. Cyr was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 21, 1921. She loved learning and went to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She earned three degrees there: a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in 1942, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1944, and finally her Ph.D. in 1950. After getting her M.A., Phyllis St. Cyr married George Freier, who was also a physicist.

Her Career as a Scientist

During World War II, from 1944 to 1945, Freier worked as a physicist at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory. This was a place where scientists helped with military technology.

After the war, she went back to the University of Minnesota to continue her studies in physics. She worked on her Ph.D. research with other scientists, Edward Ney and Frank Oppenheimer. They used special high-altitude balloons to study cosmic radiation from space.

Discovering Heavy Elements in Space

In 1948, Dr. Freier made a huge discovery. She was the first person to see tiny tracks in nuclear emulsions. These tracks were proof that cosmic radiation included the nuclei (centers) of heavy elements. This was a very important finding for understanding space.

After finishing her Ph.D., Dr. Freier continued working at the University of Minnesota. She was a Research Associate from 1950 to 1970. Then, she became an Associate Professor from 1970 to 1975. From 1975 until she passed away in 1992, she was a full Professor of Physics.

Teaching and Inspiring Students

Dr. Freier was also a fantastic teacher. In 1988, the University of Minnesota gave her an award for her amazing work teaching physics to college students. She taught for 18 years and was known for helping students connect what they learned in textbooks to real-world experiments in the lab.

Important Research Contributions

Dr. Freier was known around the world as an expert in cosmic rays. She was especially skilled at using nuclear emulsions to study astrophysics and physics. At the University of Minnesota, she and her team made one of the most important discoveries in astrophysics: finding heavy nuclei in cosmic radiation.

Besides her work as a student, she also published other important research. Her studies covered topics like how particles behave, the Earth's physical processes (geophysics), and space (astrophysics). She researched emission spectra (how light is given off), cosmic rays, and how to use nuclear emulsions in her work.

Her Later Years

Phyllis Freier passed away at her home in Saint Paul, Minnesota on December 18, 1992. She had Parkinson's disease.

Honors and Awards

• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Fellow, American Physical Society
• Horace T. Morse-Minnesota Alumni Association Award