The Most Famous Female Physicist, Ranked

Choose the female physicist you think is the most famous!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 2, 2024 07:05
In the expansive realm of physics, the contributions of female physicists have often been overshadowed, despite their pivotal roles in advancing the field. Establishing a rank for the most famous female physicists not only highlights their achievements but also inspires a new generation of scientists. This recognition serves as a beacon, guiding more young women toward careers in science and technology. By participating in voting for your top female physicists, you contribute to a collective acknowledgment of their impact and legacy. This dynamic ranking reflects current public opinion and keeps the historical and contemporary significance of these scientists in the public eye. Your votes help shape an informed and diverse understanding of the leaders in physics.

Who Is the Most Famous Female Physicist?

  1. 1
    24
    votes

    Marie Curie

    Marie Curie
    Curie is arguably the most famous female physicist of all time. She was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize and the first person ever to receive two Nobel Prizes in different fields. She discovered the elements polonium and radium and made groundbreaking contributions to the field of radioactivity.
    Marie Curie was a renowned physicist and chemist who made pioneering contributions to the field of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have received Nobel Prizes in two different scientific disciplines. Curie's groundbreaking research laid the foundation for modern nuclear physics and medical treatments.
    • Birthdate: November 7, 1867
    • Nationality: Polish, later became French
    • Nobel Prizes: Physics (1903), Chemistry (1911)
    • Discoveries: Polonium and Radium
    • First Woman: To win a Nobel Prize
    Marie Curie in other rankings
  2. 2
    28
    votes
    Meitner was an Austrian physicist who made significant contributions to nuclear physics and the discovery of nuclear fission. Despite being overlooked for the Nobel Prize, she was widely respected by her peers and is considered one of the most important female scientists of the 20th century.
  3. 3
    12
    votes

    Chien-Shiung Wu

    Chien-Shiung Wu
    Wu was a Chinese-American physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. She conducted the Wu experiment, which confirmed the theory of parity non-conservation in weak interactions. Wu was also the first woman to serve as president of the American Physical Society.
    Chien-Shiung Wu, also known as the First Lady of Physics, was a renowned scientist who made significant contributions in the field of experimental physics. She was a Chinese-American physicist and educator, born on May 31, 1912, in Liuhe, China. Wu is best known for her work on the beta decay of atomic nuclei, which helped confirm the violation of the principle of conservation of parity, earning her the recognition as the most beautiful scientist by the Chinese public.
    • Nationality: Chinese-American
    • Birth Date: May 31, 1912
    • Birthplace: Liuhe, China
    • Field: Experimental Physics
    • Contributions: Beta decay of atomic nuclei, violation of conservation of parity
    Chien-Shiung Wu in other rankings
  4. 4
    23
    votes
    Noether was a German mathematician and theoretical physicist who made significant contributions to the fields of abstract algebra and theoretical physics. She is best known for Noether's theorem, which is a fundamental principle in the field of physics.
  5. 5
    3
    votes
    Vera Rubin
    NASA · Public domain
    Rubin was an American astronomer who made groundbreaking discoveries about the structure and motion of galaxies. She discovered the discrepancy between the predicted and observed rotation rates of galaxies, which led to the development of the concept of dark matter.
    Vera Rubin in other rankings
  6. 6
    11
    votes

    Lisa Randall

    Lisa Randall
    Randall is an American theoretical physicist who is known for her contributions to the field of particle physics and cosmology. She has written several popular science books and is a frequent commentator on science and technology issues.
    Lisa Randall is a prominent theoretical physicist known for her contributions to particle physics and cosmology. She is a leading expert in the field of extra dimensions and has made significant advancements in understanding the nature of the universe. Her work has revolutionized our understanding of the fundamental forces and the structure of matter.
    • Research focus: Particle physics and cosmology
    • Notable contributions: Advancements in understanding extra dimensions, the nature of the universe, and fundamental forces
    • Field: Theoretical physics
    • Education: PhD in theoretical particle physics from Harvard University
    • Professorship: Professor of Theoretical Physics at Harvard University
    Lisa Randall in other rankings
  7. 7
    7
    votes
    Dresselhaus was an American physicist who made significant contributions to the fields of condensed matter physics and materials science. She was known as the "Queen of Carbon" for her work on carbon nanotubes and graphene.
  8. 8
    8
    votes
    Uhlenbeck is an American mathematician and theoretical physicist who made significant contributions to the field of geometric analysis. She was awarded the Abel Prize in 2019, becoming the first woman to receive the award.
  9. 9
    10
    votes
    Strickland is a Canadian physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 for her work on laser physics. She is the third woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics and the first woman in 55 years to receive the award without a male co-recipient.
  10. 10
    8
    votes
    Margaret Geller
    ServiceAT · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Geller is an American astrophysicist who made significant contributions to the field of cosmology. She is known for her work on the large-scale structure of the universe and the mapping of the distribution of galaxies.

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous female physicist. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Physicist is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1226 views
  • 130 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Physicist once every 24 hours. The rank of each Physicist is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous female physicist

The world of physics has traditionally been male-dominated, but there have been many exceptional female physicists who have made significant contributions to the field. Some of these women have achieved global recognition for their groundbreaking discoveries and innovative research. In this article, we explore the question of who is the most famous female physicist of all time. From Marie Curie to Lisa Randall, we delve into the lives and achievements of some of the most remarkable women in physics history. Join us as we explore their legacies and celebrate their groundbreaking work in the field of physics.

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