Thomas Gold

Thomas Gold (May 22, 1920 – June 22, 2004) was an Austrian astrophysicist, a professor of astronomy at Cornell University, and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. Gold was one of three young Cambridge scientists who advanced the scientific understanding of cosmology in the 1950s by proposing the controversial 'steady state' hypothesis of the universe. Gold had the unusual ability to cross academic and scientific boundaries, into biophysics, astrophysics, space engineering, or geophysics, to challenge longstanding dogma with his profound insights.

Astrophysics

Gold carried out research on cosmology and on magnetic fields, and coined the term 'magnetosphere' for the Earth's magnetic fields. Along with Bondi, he developed the steady-state theory. Soon after the discovery of pulsars in 1968, he correctly identified these objects as rapidly rotating neutron stars with strong magnetic fields.

Related Topics:
Cosmology - Magnetic fields - 'magnetosphere' - Steady-state theory - Pulsars - 1968 - Neutron stars - Magnetic

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For a number of years, Gold promoted the idea a thick layer of dust would cover many portions of the surface of the Moon. His opinion influenced the design of the American Surveyor lunar landing probes, but their precautions appeared excessive, as Gold had overestimated the extent to which cyclic thermal expansion and contraction would pulverize lunar surface rock.

Related Topics:
Moon - American - Surveyor

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He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1985.

Related Topics:
Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society - 1985

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