Erwin Schrödinger
Developed foundational equations of quantum mechanics and devised the famous thought experiment known as Schrödinger's cat
Devising a thought experiment intended to highlight the apparent absurdity of quantum theory's implications, this physicist inadvertently created one of the most famous and enduring images in all of popular science.
The Schrödinger Equation
Schrödinger developed a foundational equation of quantum mechanics describing how the quantum state of a physical system changes over time, work that earned him the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Schrödinger's Cat
Schrödinger devised his famous "Schrödinger's cat" thought experiment to illustrate what he viewed as absurd implications of quantum superposition when applied to everyday objects, imagining a cat simultaneously alive and dead.
A Reluctant Popularizer
Ironically, Schrödinger intended his cat thought experiment as a critique of certain quantum mechanical interpretations, yet it became one of the most widely recognized and often misunderstood images in popular science.
Broader Scientific Interests
Beyond physics, Schrödinger wrote influentially about biology and genetics, and his book What is Life? significantly influenced the later scientists who discovered the structure of DNA.
