Maria Goeppert Mayer

Maria Goeppert Mayer was a pioneering physicist who made significant contributions to our understanding of atomic structure and nuclear physics. She won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for her work on the shell model of atomic nuclei, which explains how protons and neutrons are arranged within an atom. Mayer's research laid the groundwork for advances in applied nuclear physics and has implications for high-energy astrophysics, such as understanding stellar processes. Additionally, her insights have influenced fields like nonlinear optics, which explores the behavior of light in different media, showcasing her lasting impact on modern science.