GAMOW, George

(1904-1968)

   Russian-born physicist involved in the development of quantum theory at Gottingen and later a colleague of Niels Bohr (1885-1962) and Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937). After 1935 he lived in the USA, holding thechair of theoretical physics at George Washington University. After important work on stellar evolution, he turned to investigating the Big Bang, becoming the most ardent proselytizer for that theory of theUniverse's origins, in contradiction to the then important Steady State theory advocated by, notably, Fred HOYLE. Beyond his technical work, GG is known for his 10 or more scientific popularizations, beginning with The Birth and Death of the Sun (1940) and including One Two Three . . .Infinity (1947; rev 1960). His three books about Mr Tompkins are particularly attractive: Mr Tompkins in Wonderland (coll 1939 chap UK) and Mr Tompkins Explores the Atom (coll 1944 chap UK), both being assembled asMr Tompkins in Paperback (omni 1965 UK), and Mr Tompkins Learns the Facts of Life (coll 1953 chap UK; exp with Martynas Ycas vt Mr Tompkins inside Himself 1967). Couched in narrative form, these books gracefully andintelligently explore the wonders of science, with Tompkins magically visiting embodied demonstrations of the scientific world, and even exploring his own body. Though technically juvenile, the books have a wide appeal. GG also wrote at least one sf story for adults, "The Heart on the Other Side" (1931), written to celebrate Bohr's 70th birthday and laterpublished in The Expert Dreamers (anth 1963) ed Frederik POHL.

   JC

   See also: ALTERNATE WORLDS; COSMOLOGY; DIMENSIONS; FASTER THAN LIGHT; GREAT AND SMALL.