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Born
Born: October 7, 1885, Copenhagen, Denmark.
As the son of Christian Bohr, Professor of Physiology at Copenhagen University, and his wife Ellen. Christian. his father was an eminent physiologist and was largely responsible for awakening his interest in physics while still at school, his mother came from a family distinguished in the field of education. -
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Niels Bohr
The life of Niels Bohr was an exciting one for science. The Danish physicist made important contributions to the understanding of the structure and energy of the atom, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. He helped clarify several problems with quantum physics, including complementary and fission. The Bohr Atom explained:
https://youtu.be/GhAn8xZQ-d8 -
Married Life
Professor Bohr was married, in 1912, to Margrethe Nørlund, who was for him an ideal companion. They had six sons, of whom they lost two; the other four have made distinguished careers in various professions – Hans Henrik (M.D.), Erik (chemical engineer), Aage (Ph.D., theoretical physicist, following his father as Director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics), Ernest (lawyer). -
Lectureship in Physics
In 1913-1914 Bohr held a Lectureship in Physics at Copenhagen University and in 1914-1916 a similar appointment at the Victoria University in Manchester. In 1916 he was appointed Professor of Theoretical Physics at Copenhagen University, and since 1920 (until his death in 1962) he was at the head of the Institute for Theoretical Physics, established for him at that university. -
Nobel Prize
In 1922, Bohr was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services in the investigation of the structure of atoms and of the radiation emanating from them". The award recognized his early leading work in the emerging field of quantum mechanics. "An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a very narrow field." -Bohr- -
the Manhattan Project
Bohr began his work on the Manhattan Project after fleeing to Sweden from Denmark because of German occupation in 1943. Originally he was brought to London, working with the British Tube Alloys nuclear weapons development team. Bohr was eventually brought to the United States, and worked at Los Alamos under the pseudonym Nicholas Baker, as a knowledgeable consultant. -
Died
Died: November 18, 1962, Carlsberg, Copenhagen, Denmark. He died of a heart attack at home at the age of seventy-seven.
Burial: Assistens Cemetery, Copenhagen Denmark.
