1904-1968

Russian-born American physicist who made important contributions to cosmology, nuclear physics, and molecular biology. Gamow was codeveloper of the Alpher-Bethe-Gamow "big bang" theory of the universe's origin, which explained the observed abundance of lighter elements. He later concluded that heavier elements formed in the center of stars. He independently developed alpha decay theory and suggested how DNA governed protein synthesis. Gamow was a great popularizer of physics and widely known for his Mr. Tompkins books.