Ernest Rutherford, also known as the 'father of nuclear physics,' was a physicist from New Zealand who became known for his pioneering studies of radioactivity and for his discovery of the atomic nucleus. He was born in Brightwater, New Zealand on August 30, 1871. Rutherford studied at Canterbury College and later secured a scholarship to the University of Cambridge.
While working under J.J. Thomson at Cambridge, he identified the concept of radioactive half-life, proving the spontaneous disintegration of heavy elements into lighter ones. His most well-known work was his atomic model, completed in 1911. While studying the results of shooting fast particles at gold foil, Rutherford found that some particles were deflected, suggesting that atoms had a dense inner core that he named the nucleus.
Rutherford was also known for his discovery of the latter two naturally occurring radioactive elements, which he named radon and polonium. He was instrumental in the development of nuclear physics. In 1908, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his investigations into the disintegration of the elements, and the chemistry of radioactive substances".
Ernest Rutherford died in Cambridge, England on October 19, 1937, leaving behind a significant scientific legacy that continues to have an impact today.
