John N. Bahcall

John N. Bahcall (December 30 1934 – August 17 2005) was an American astrophysicist. He is best known for his contributions to the solar neutrino problem and the development of the Hubble Space Telescope, and for his leadership and development of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Early and family life

Bahcall was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He did not take science classes at high school, and became state tennis champion and a national debate team champion. Bahcall started his university career at Louisiana State University as a philosophy student on a tennis scholarship, and considered becoming a rabbi. He moved to the University of California, Berkeley after one year, still studying philosophy. He took his first physics class as it was a graduation requirement.

Related Topics:
Shreveport, Louisiana - High school - Tennis - Debate - Louisiana State University - Philosophy - Scholarship - Rabbi - University of California, Berkeley - Physics

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He was married to Princeton University professor in astrophysics Neta Bahcall, who he first met while she was a graduate student at the Weizmann Institute in the 1960s. Together, they had a daughter and two sons. He died in New York from a rare blood disorder.

Related Topics:
Princeton University - Neta Bahcall - Weizmann Institute - 1960s - New York

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