William F. Neuman facts for kids
William F. Neuman (born June 2, 1919, in Petoskey, Michigan – died January 4, 1981, in Rochester, New York) was an important American scientist. He was a biochemist, which means he studied the chemicals and processes that happen inside living things. Neuman became a top expert on how bones are made and work at a chemical level.
Contents
William F. Neuman's Work
Early Career and Atomic Energy
Before joining the University of Rochester in 1944, Neuman led a science team. This team was part of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. This commission worked with atomic energy, which is a powerful type of energy. Neuman helped create a new area of science called health physics. This field looks at how radiation, which comes from atomic energy, can affect people's health.
Studying Space and Bones
In 1965, William Neuman was part of a special science team. This team studied astronauts Frank Borman and James A. Lovell. They had just finished a fourteen-day trip in space on a spacecraft called Gemini 7. The scientists wanted to see how being in space for a long time affected the astronauts' bodies. Neuman was especially interested in how space travel might affect their bones.
He wrote or helped write more than 200 science papers. These papers shared his discoveries with other scientists around the world.
His Legacy
William F. Neuman's work was very important. Because of his great contributions to science, an award was created in his name. Since 1981, the William F. Neuman Award has been given out every year. The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research presents this award for "outstanding and major scientific research" in bone and mineral studies. It honors scientists who do amazing work on how bones and minerals function.
