Heike Kamerlingh Onnes

Heike Kamerlingh Onnes was born on September 21, 1853, in Groningen, Netherlands. He was the son of Harm Kamerlingh Onnes and Anna Gerdina Coers. Heike showed an early interest in science, which led him to pursue studies in physics at the University of Groningen, and later at the University of Heidelberg, where he studied under notable physicists such as Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff.

On December 6, 1882, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes was promoted to doctor with a dissertation on 'New Proof of the Earth's Rotation'. His work demonstrated his immense potential in experimental physics, and his doctorate from the University of Groningen marked the beginning of a distinguished career in the field of low-temperature physics.

On July 10, 1908, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes achieved the liquefaction of helium, becoming the first person to liquefy the element. This milestone was crucial in reaching temperatures close to absolute zero and opened up new possibilities for research in low-temperature physics, laying the groundwork for significant future discoveries.

In April 1911, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes discovered superconductivity, a phenomenon where electrical resistance in mercury vanished at temperatures near absolute zero. This groundbreaking discovery was published shortly after and has had a profound impact on the development of physics and technology ever since, affecting fields from medical imaging to quantum computing.

On December 10, 1913, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his investigations on the properties of matter at low temperatures which led to the production of liquid helium. His pioneering work in low-temperature physics and the discovery of superconductivity were lauded by the scientific community.

Heike Kamerlingh Onnes passed away on February 21, 1926, in Leiden, Netherlands. His death marked the end of a significant era in experimental physics, but his contributions have had lasting impacts. Kamerlingh Onnes is remembered as one of the most influential physicists of his time, and his discoveries continue to shape scientific research today.