About

Born in 1902, he studied in Berlin and Göttingen before working with leading physicists such as Niels Bohr and Karl Weissenberg. Wigner's most notable contributions include the development of the concept of symmetries in quantum mechanics, often referred to as Wigner's symmetries. He also formulated the laws of the conservation of parity, which led to the discovery of the violation of parity in weak interactions, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963. Throughout his career, Wigner worked on numerous projects related to the Manhattan Project, contributing to the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. After the war, he continued his research on nuclear reactors and the peaceful use of atomic energy. Aside from his scientific work, Wigner was known for his philosophical reflections on the relationship between mathematics and physics, stating that "the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences" was a fundamental mystery. He also expressed concerns about the potential dangers of nuclear weapons and advocated for arms control and peaceful cooperation among nations. Eugene Wigner received numerous awards and honors throughout his life, including the National Medal of Science and the Albert Einstein Medal. He passed away in 1995, leaving behind a rich legacy in the field of theoretical physics and a profound influence on future generations of scientists.