Walter Lewin

Astrophysicist

Birthday January 29, 1936

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Aruba, Netherlands

Age 87 years old

#112125 Most Popular

About

Dutch astrophysicist and retired professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His contributions in astrophysics include the first discovery of a rotating neutron star through all-sky balloon surveys and research in X-ray detection in investigations through satellites and observatories. He's also known for his lectures on physics on YouTube, MIT OpenCourseWare, and edX. 

Before Fame

In the year 1965, he earned his doctorate in nuclear physics from the Delft University of Technology. He was also a member of MIT's physics faculty for 43 years from 1966 to 2009.     

Trivia

In the year 2014, he made an appearance on PBS's The World of Quantum, NOVA. That same year, MIT revoked his Professor Emeritus title after an MIT investigation determined that he had violated university policy by sexually harassing an online student.   

Family Life

He is the son of Walter Simon Lewin and Pieternella Johanna van der Tang. 

Associated With

He and Neil deGrasse Tyson are both astrophysicists.