Ernest Rutherford was one of the giants in the field of atomic physics as science was just beginning to understand this world of infinitesimal yet powerful reactions. He did important research on radiation and coined such words as "alpha," "beta," and "gamma" waves, "proton," "half-life," "neutron," and "daughter atom." In addition, Rutherford showed conclusively that, despite the dominant scientific belief of his day that atoms were immutable and indivisible, radioactive elements can shed atoms to become different elements.

The son of successful farmers and one of 12 children, Rutherford was born in Bridgewater, a small town near Nelson, New Zealand. He enjoyed life on the farm and considered making it his livelihood as well, but his intellectual talents were apparent from an early age as he made his way through the local government-run schools. When he won an academic scholarship to Canterbury College in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1889 as...