Richard Feynman (1918-1988)

Famous For: Collective work on Path integral formulation on quantum mechanics, particle physics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics

Feynman played a key role in the development of quantum electrodynamics, which blends special relativity and quantum mechanics to search for a better understanding of the Universe. This theory describes how light and matter interact, earning him a Nobel Prize in 1965. Feynman also contributed to the fields of quantum computing and nanotechnology and was a member of the Rogers Commission that lambasted NASA over the destruction of space shuttle Challenger in 1986.