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Max Planck was the inventor of quantum physics. He entered the University of Munich at age 16. Here, he was told by his physics professor that the study of physics was complete and no new advancements would be made in that field. However, Planck still decided to study physics. He received his doctorate in 1879 and immediately got a job teaching at the University of Munich. In 1889 he went to the University of Berlin, where he remained for the rest of his teaching career. In the year 1900, Planck discovered his radiation formula. He then derived from this a new theory that denounced classical physics. He also introduced the idea of "quanta" of energy. Due to the unorthodoxness of his theory, it met resistance until 1913, when Niels Bohr proved it experimentally. Quantum theory became universally accepted, and Planck received the Nobel Prize in 1918. After this, Planck left the further development of quantum physics to other physicists. He spent the rest of his life struggling through the World Wars in Germany, where he lost two sons (one died in World War I, the other was executed for plotting to assassinate Hitler in World War II.), and trying to defend the German scientific community. |