Max Planck
1858–1947 · German · Late Victorian / Modern
Known for: Originated quantum theory with his discovery of energy quanta, revolutionizing physics
Max Planck reluctantly destroyed classical physics. In 1900, he discovered that energy is emitted in discrete packets called quanta—not continuously, as everyone assumed. This single insight launched quantum mechanics and earned him the Nobel Prize in 1918. He didn't even like what he'd found; he spent years trying to make it fit classical physics before accepting the revolutionary implications.
His personal life was a catalog of tragedy: his first wife died young, his eldest son was killed in World War I, his twin daughters both died in childbirth, and his second son was executed by the Nazis for his involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler. Through it all, Planck continued working with stoic dignity.
Browse all 1,000 figures by category
Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.