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Frits Zernike

Dutch physicist (1888-1966) · Netherlands · Scientists · Died at 77

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The Dutch physicist who made the invisible visible: his phase-contrast microscope let scientists see living cells without killing them first, earning him the 1953 Nobel Prize in Physics.

ScientistsScientistPhysicsMathematicsChemistry20th Century

A life in dates

1966Died10 March 19661956Foreign Member of the Royal SocietyAward1955Honorary Doctor of the University of PoitiersAward1953“I am impressed by the great limitations of the human mind. How quick are we to learn, that is, to imitate what others have done or thought before.”In their wordsHis Nobel lecture, "How I Discovered Phase Contrast" (11December 1953)

Nobel Prize in PhysicsAward1952Rumford MedalAward1888Born16 July 1888

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

ZernikeZernikeFrits Zernike (1953)Frits Zernike (1953)9. Tagung 1959 Physiker Sir George P. Thomson, Paul Dirac, Frits Zernike - W134Nr.058140 - Willy Pragher9. Tagung 1959 Physiker Sir George P. Thomson, Paul Dirac, Frits Zernike - W134Nr.058140 - Willy PragherEre-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4816Ere-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4816Ere-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4817Ere-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4817Ere-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4818Ere-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4818Ere-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4819Ere-promotie Professor Dr. F. Zernike promotor Mevrouw Professor Dr. Ch. Ruys, Bestanddeelnr 905-4819Foto Prof. Zernike (F) Groningen Nobelprijswinnaar, aan de arbeid, Bestanddeelnr 906-0834Foto Prof. Zernike (F) Groningen Nobelprijswinnaar, aan de arbeid, Bestanddeelnr 906-0834

In their own words 1

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Frits Zernike
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One statement

  1. I am impressed by the great limitations of the human mind. How quick are we to learn, that is, to imitate what others have done or thought before.

    1953, His Nobel lecture, "How I Discovered Phase Contrast" (11December 1953), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Foreign Member of the Royal Society1956
Honorary Doctor of the University of Poitiers1955
Nobel Prize in Physics1953
Rumford Medal1952

In their orbit 4

About this person

Frederik Zernike was born in the Netherlands on 16 July 1888. He invented the phase-contrast microscope, a technique that transformed biological research by allowing transparent specimens to be observed alive and unstained - what had been invisible under ordinary light suddenly had structure and detail. The work brought him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1953. He died on 10 March 1966.

Country
Netherlands
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1888 to 1966 · aged 77

Scientists from the Netherlands 6

Peter Debye61.8Nicolaas Bloembergen61.4Gerard 't Hooft62.6Simon van der Meer61.4Heike Kamerlingh Onnes66.4Willem Einthoven60.0

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