List of days of the year

15 December - Henri Becquerel French physicist and Nobel laureate

 


Henri Becquerel (1852–1908) was a French physicist and Nobel laureate best known for his pioneering work in the field of radioactivity. He was born on 15 December 1852, in Paris, France, into a family with a strong scientific background.

Becquerel's most significant contribution to science came in 1896 when he accidentally discovered radioactivity while investigating the properties of uranium compounds. He observed that uranium salts emitted rays that could fog a photographic plate even when not exposed to light. This discovery was a crucial step in the development of nuclear physics.

In recognition of his groundbreaking work, Henri Becquerel, along with Marie Curie and her husband Pierre Curie, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903. The three scientists were honored for their joint research on the radiation phenomena.

Henri Becquerel's legacy paved the way for further research into the properties of radioactive materials, ultimately leading to significant advancements in nuclear physics and medicine. He passed away on 25 August 1908, in Le Croisic, France.

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