Thursday, January 6, 2011

Emmy Noether

Amalie Emmy Noether, (23 March 1882 – 14 April 1935) was an influential German mathematician known for her groundbreaking contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. Described by David Hilbert, Albert Einstein and others as the most important woman in the history of mathematics, she revolutionized the theories of rings, fields, and algebras. In physics, Noether's theorem explains the fundamental connection between symmetry and conservation laws.

Steve here. The more you dig into Physics, at least those parts I like, the more you run into this incredibly talented woman. Marie Curie is considered the most famous woman in Science, but Emmy was also vastly important, and is currently little known to the general public.

Hopefully in time, that will change, but for it to do so, people will have to be educated about Symmetry and Conservation Laws. We shall see.

The Wikipedia article re Emmy Noether is so long that I'll spare you all by linking to it: here.

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