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Births on August 26

Edward Witten
1951Aug, 26

Edward Witten

Edward Witten, American physicist and academic
Edward Witten (born August 26, 1951) is an American mathematical and theoretical physicist. He is the Charles Simonyi Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Witten is a researcher in string theory, quantum gravity, supersymmetric quantum field theories, and other areas of mathematical physics. Witten's work has also significantly impacted pure mathematics. In 1990, he became the first physicist to be awarded a Fields Medal by the International Mathematical Union, for his 1981 proof of the positive energy theorem in general relativity. He is considered the practical founder of M-theory.

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Events on 1951

  • 11Apr

    President Truman's relief of General Douglas MacArthur

    Korean War: President Harry Truman relieves General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of overall command in Korea.
  • 22Apr

    Battle of Kapyong

    Korean War: The Chinese People's Volunteer Army begin assaulting positions defended by the Royal Australian Regiment and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the Battle of Kapyong.
  • 25Apr

    Battle of Kapyong

    Korean War: Assaulting Chinese forces are forced to withdraw after heavy fighting with UN forces, primarily made up of Australian and Canadian troops, at the Battle of Kapyong.
  • 3May

    Harry Truman

    The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations begin their closed door hearings into the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur by U.S. President Harry Truman.
  • 15Oct

    Combined oral contraceptive pill

    Mexican chemist Luis E. Miramontes conducts the very last step of the first synthesis of norethisterone, the progestin that would later be used in one of the first three oral contraceptives.