116. Reinhard Genzel: Nobel Prize Winner and World’s Leading Researcher in Astronomy

May 21, 2024

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Are we alone in this vast universe? The question has been pondered since the beginning of time, but it’s not the only one. The truth is that our universe is filled with innumerable mysteries that have yet to be encountered, much less solved. From planets to aliens, asteroids, galaxies, and so much in between, nothing is off-limits when it comes to space. It’s fascinating to think of the many facets and layers of discovery that our universe and the millions like it holds, one can’t help but stand back and look up at the stars in awe.

Our guest today is a man who is at the forefront of research and exploration and putting the puzzle that is our universe together. Reinhard Genzel is a Nobel Prize winner and one of the world's foremost authorities in Experimental Astrophysics. Today, he joins us and shares insights into his past, present, and the way his research is impacting the future of our efforts to uncover the hidden mysteries of our universe.

In this episode:

(1:21) – Reinhard discusses his family history of physics.
(5:00) – Reinhard comes to the realization that sports and studies can’t be done at a high level simultaneously.
(9:48) – The valuable lessons he learned from Townes.
(15:48) – Reinhart determines that staying at Berkley would stunt his growth.
(21:41) – Working with the European Space Agency.
(22:07) – Reinhard reveals he has no interest in visiting outer space.
(27:55) – Reinhard discusses his biggest professional moments.
(31:52) – Reinhard gives interesting tidbits on Black Holes.
(40:39) – The Crawford Prize is awarded to Reinhart and his partner.
(42:00) – Reinhard reminiscences about receiving the Nobel Prize call.
(44:44) – The James Webb Telescope and evolving backwards in time.

Our Guest

Reinhard Genzel is a Nobel Prize winner who focuses primarily on the field of Experimental Astrophysics. His research group studies the physical processes and the evolution of active galaxies and, in particular, their central regions. His work on black holes has made him one of the most respected voices on this phenomenon. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Bonn (FRG) in 1978. He came to Berkeley as a Miller Fellow in 1980 and joined the Physics Department faculty as Associate Professor in 1981. He left Berkeley in 1986 to become Director at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Munich (FRG), where he is also an Honorary Professor at the Ludwig-Maximilian University.

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Reinhard Genzel

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