Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Quotes

A collection of quotes by Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910-1995) was an Indian-American astrophysicist who made significant contributions to our understanding of stellar evolution. He was born on October 19, 1910, in Lahore, British India (now Pakistan).

Chandrasekhar's early academic prowess earned him a scholarship to study mathematics at the University of Cambridge in England. However, after attending a series of lectures by renowned physicist Arthur Eddington, Chandrasekhar became fascinated with astrophysics. He shifted his focus and obtained his Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Cambridge in 1933.

One of Chandrasekhar's most noteworthy achievements came in 1930 when he theorized the existence of a maximum limit, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, for the mass of a white dwarf star before it collapses into a black hole or a neutron star. Despite initial resistance from the scientific community, his work eventually gained recognition and became a crucial concept in stellar astrophysics.

Chandrasekhar's contributions to science earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983, which he shared with William A. Fowler. He spent a significant portion of his career as a professor at the University of Chicago, where he continued to impact the field of astrophysics through his research and mentorship.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar's groundbreaking work revolutionized our understanding of stars and their evolution, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential astrophysicists of the 20th century. He passed away on August 21, 1995, in Chicago, leaving behind a remarkable scientific legacy that continues to inspire future generations of scientists.