Herbert Kroemer, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who laid the groundwork for the invention of many modern technologies, has reportedly passed away at the age of 95. Kroemer was born in Germany. He died on March 8th, 2024.
The announcement of his death was made by the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he served as an emeritus professor. The legendary physicist is credited with helping to invent high-speed internet communication, mobile phones and bar-code readers.
His breakthrough discoveries came through applied science rather than pure research, making Kroemer a unique member of the science community. It is rare for the Nobel to honor any scientist’s research which was conducted in applied sciences, however, Kroemer broke the mold. He received his Nobel Prize in physics in the year 2000.
Kroemer graduated from the University of Göttingen in Germany just before he turned 24 years of age. He worked in the German postal service starting in 1952. He allegedly started working for the postal service because there were no postdoctoral positions available at the time.
It was at the post office that Kroemer did a lot of his research. The physicist oversaw a small laboratory and research group looking to improve telecommunications.
He is the second Nobel Prize-winning scientist to die in the last several days, as Peter Higgs’ death was also announced just yesterday. A vast majority of Kroemer’s research came from his time spent in the private sector.
The New York Times reports on his death,
Herbert Kroemer, a German-born American physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his part in discoveries that paved the way for the development of many trappings of modern life, including high-speed internet communication, mobile phones and bar-code readers, died on March 8. He was 95.
The death was announced by the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was an emeritus professor. No further details were provided in a statement.
Dr. Kroemer’s most important contributions were in the development of so-called heterostructures. They vastly enhance the speed, and therefore the power, of transistors and other types of semiconductors that are the building blocks of all electronic equipment.
The New York times
Kroemer lived an amazing life, and made tremendous contributions to the improvement of the world, and the quality of life of those living in it. The world owes this brilliant man a tremendous gratitude for his contributions to our species.
It is the unsung heroes like Kroemer that build a better future.
