Steven Weinberg

Steven Weinberg, a visionary and audacious light who forever changed our understanding of the universe, died on 23 July 2021 in Austin, Texas. He was born New York City 3 May 1933 received his BA from Cornell University 1954. At Princeton University, under Sam Treiman, he earned PhD nuclear physics 1957.Steven WeinbergLOUISE WEINBERGPPT|High resolutionSteve’s remarkable 1967 paper “A model leptons” unified electromagnetism weak interaction into one framework, electroweak theory. In three pages, used gauge theory to predict W Z bosons as mediators interaction, their masses, existence neutral currents, “Higgs” boson—all subsequently confirmed by experiment. For that work, Steve awarded 1979 Nobel Prize Physics, shared with Abdus Salam Sheldon Glashow. Electroweak is cornerstone today’s standard model, which unifies all forces nature save gravity. It work many minds Steve’s consistent leadership.His other seminal contributions include, most notably, effective field theory, calculable low-energy approximation underlying fundamental 2009 review article, argued leading term an assertion still not proven experiment.The need for verification experiment central thinking. came believe further progress particle required national commitment. 1987 1993, testified before Congress, stressing proposed Superconducting Super Collider, but Congress opted fund International Space Station.His interest cosmology led write popular 1977 book The First Three Minutes: A Modern View Origin Universe. inspired physicists astronomers together explain why universe way it is. state well described Cosmology (2008). His biggest contribution proposing solutions dark-matter problem are motivated axions candidates, weakly interacting particles set stage experimentally.For monumental physics, awards honors, including National Medal Science 1991. presenting Benjamin Franklin him 2004, American Philosophical Society said “considered be preeminent theoretical physicist alive” at time.Steve’s academic career took Columbia California, Berkeley. When Louise, wife, admitted Harvard Law School 1966, temporary appointments MIT Harvard, where 1973 became Higgins Professor Physics. family moved Palo Alto year 1976 after Louise accepted visiting offer Stanford School, professor university’s department. 1980 professorship Texas Austin Law. Two years later sought appointment Texas, founded UT Theory Group held Josey Regental Chair Science.One thing always impressed me about how hard worked. worth one’s effort through some complex calculations. practice based notes each classes. results included definitive three-volume set, Quantum Fields (1995–2000), recent book, Foundations Physics (2021).Steve’s books include Dreams Final (1992) To Explain World: Discovery (2015). frequent contributor Review Books, never shied away expressing views religion society. also engaging speaker, referring interestingly history literature, had sense humor captivated audiences.Steve extremely kind generous person, illustrated following story conveyed my former student David Medellin: “When I wrote Weinberg asking if could speak research opportunities. replied saying going office regularly, would … meet let know beforehand. amazed. couldn’t THE come just office.” That isolated event; truly cared students, witnessed occasions, several online tributes (see “Steven [1933–2021],” Today online, August 2021).The last time talked this past April. We discussed quantum entanglement possibility resuming lunch meetings pandemic. liked go particular restaurant near campus usually order blue-plate special meatloaf. often insisted treating me, when we split bill, made sure left same tip! looking forward telling group’s quantum-limited acoustic detection, testing limits Albert Einstein’s 1907 prediction Brownian motion, its relevance search events bubble chambers. have it, combination two passions: science. Alas, gone, reality accept. will remembered greatest time. Section:ChooseTop page <<© Institute