Birthday: July 9, 1911
Biography: An American theoretical physicist known for coining the term "black hole" and contributions to quantum mechanics and general relativity.
Accomplishments:
Black Hole Term (1967): Coined the term "black hole" to describe collapsed stellar objects.
Wheeler-DeWitt Equation: Developed a fundamental equation in quantum gravity.
Quantum Foam: Proposed the concept of quantum fluctuations in spacetime.
Participatory Anthropic Principle: Suggested that the universe requires observers to exist.
Work on Nuclear Physics: Contributed to the understanding of nuclear fission and fusion.
Wheeler coined the term "black hole" to describe regions of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that not even light can escape, bringing the concept into mainstream scientific and popular discourse.
This equation, developed with Bryce DeWitt, is fundamental in the field of quantum gravity, aiming to describe the quantum state of the entire universe.
Wheeler proposed that spacetime has a "foamy" structure at the smallest scales, characterized by quantum fluctuations, which has implications for the nature of the universe at the Planck scale.
Wheeler suggested that the universe requires observers to exist, implying that consciousness plays a fundamental role in the existence of the universe.
Wheeler made significant contributions to the understanding of nuclear fission and fusion, including work on the Manhattan Project and the development of the hydrogen bomb.