Joan Feynman died on July 22nd
The astrophysicist who studied auroras and prevailed against prejudice was 93
IN THE DUSTY Spanish town of Tordesillas in 1494, Spain and Portugal divided the unclaimed world between them. The moment is famous. Less well known is that around 1963, she at Columbia, he at Caltech, Joan Feynman and her brother Richard divvied up the universe. She took auroras, the Northern and Southern Lights that shimmer through the night sky in the highest latitudes. He, nine years older and fast becoming a world star in physics, took all the rest, which was fine with her.
This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “Getting to know the Sun”
Obituary September 19th 2020
From the September 19th 2020 edition
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