Another giant moves on. John Wheeler died yesterday. He’s known for bringing to light many wonderful pieces of physics (he’s also credited for coining the term “black hole”), classical and quantum (helping craft many of the ideas surrounding issues in quantum gravity, for example), and for being a great teacher. There’s an obituary* by Dennis Overbye in the New York Times here. I’ve borrowed their lovely photograph (which was given no photographer credit, so I cannot).
[Update: Daniel Holz has a personal reflection here.]
-cvj
*I learned of the article from Often in Error.
I just read an excellent article by Dave Bacon who blogs at “The Quantum Pontiff”
http://scienceblogs.com/pontiff/2008/04/john_wheeler.php
Thanks!
-cvj
There’s also a nice write-up about his life in the Los Angeles Times by John Johnson Jr.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-wheeler15apr15,1,76005.story