- 1918-1988. American theoretical physicist.
- Developed quantum electrodynamics (QED), the most precisely tested theory in physics.
- Invented the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, summing over all possible histories.
- Created Feynman diagrams, a visual calculus for particle interactions that transformed theoretical physics.
- Proposed the concept of quantum computing, seeding the field of quantum computation.
- Renowned physics educator; “The Feynman Lectures on Physics” remains a standard reference.
- Investigated the Challenger disaster, demonstrating the power of first-principles reasoning and empirical honesty.