Nobel physicist John Mather on art, science, and the James Webb Space Telescope
John Mather, Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist, discusses his inspirations from Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam' to his work on the COBE satellite and James Webb Space Telescope. He reflects on the importance of place, the role of past knowledge, and the pursuit of truth in a post-truth era. Mather advises young scientists to tackle unsolved problems and collaborate with inspiring people. He envisions future challenges including conflict-driven change, human predation, and technical solutions to climate change.
Key facts
- John C. Mather was born in Roanoke in 1946.
- He won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite.
- COBE confirmed the Big Bang theory of the universe.
- In 2007, Time magazine listed Mather among the 100 most influential people in the world.
- As of October 2012, Mather is senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
- JWST is returning first high-definition images of deep space.
- Mather cites Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam' as an artistic inspiration.
- He worked at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Goddard Space Flight Center.
Entities
Artists
- John C. Mather
- Michelangelo
Institutions
- NASA
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies
- Goddard Space Flight Center
- Time
- James Webb Space Telescope
- COBE
Locations
- Roanoke
- New York City
- United States