Mathematician and physicist Norbert Wiener is shown in this black-and-white portrait, wearing round glasses and a suit with a contemplative expression. Known as the father of cybernetics, Wiener made significant contributions to the fields of control theory, communications, and applied mathematics, influencing the development of modern computing and artificial intelligence.
Mathematician and physicist Norbert Wiener is shown in this black-and-white portrait, wearing round glasses and a suit with a contemplative expression. Known as the father of cybernetics, Wiener made significant contributions to the fields of control theory, communications, and applied mathematics, influencing the development of modern computing and artificial intelligence.

Fred Hoyle

Historical

Historical

Jul 24, 1915

-

Aug 20, 2001

Mathematician and physicist Norbert Wiener is shown in this black-and-white portrait, wearing round glasses and a suit with a contemplative expression. Known as the father of cybernetics, Wiener made significant contributions to the fields of control theory, communications, and applied mathematics, influencing the development of modern computing and artificial intelligence.

Fred Hoyle

Historical

Historical

Jul 24, 1915

-

Aug 20, 2001

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Fred Hoyle was an English astronomer whose ideas and works substantially changed our view on astrophysics and cosmology regarding stars' processes and the universe's origin. Hoyle was born in Yorkshire in 1915, and his interest in mathematics and the universe developed at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he studied and was a professor and a fellow.
The war effort at the Admiralty and the subsequent work on radar technology gave him a view of new scientific development and a perspective on research that was expanded from his earlier work. He returned to Cambridge after the war and started his work on nucleosynthesis, which is the formation of star elements. Hoyle constructed his theory on stellar nucleosynthesis in 1954, which shaped astrophysics practices after its publication.

Hoyle's professional achievement was his rejection of the Big Bang theory, which he termed during a BBC radio broadcast in 1949. However, he supported the theory that the universe has no start or finish and is eternally expanding as it produces new matter all the time; this theory is known as the steady-state theory.
Despite the growing evidence favouring the Big Bang, Hoyle kept his mind open and debated the issue with numerous colleagues. In addition to cosmology, Hoyle actively defended the panspermia hypothesis, which states that life on our planet could have originated from spores in space. His reach also went into pop culture, where he penned several sci-fi novels, and with his son Geoffrey, they wrote numerous science-themed fiction and science-fiction television shows.

During the later years of his life, Hoyle gradually alienated himself from mainstream astrophysics because of his heretical views and personal misunderstandings with fellow scientists. However, his contributions to science were self-evident, and he received numerous awards posthumously, in particular, the Crafoord Prize in 1997 for his pioneering work on the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis. Hoyle never won a Nobel Prize, a choice many thought was political rather than scientific.
Still, his reputation as one of the most creative minds in astrophysics remains intact.

Quotes

"Space isn't remote at all. It's only an hour's drive away if your car could go straight upwards."

"The universe is not expanding from an origin point but is in a constant state of expansion, creating new matter all the time."

"A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics."

"Once a theory has been accepted, it becomes difficult to dislodge."

"It is better to be interesting and wrong than boring and right."

"Some super-calculating intellect must have designed the properties of the carbon atom."

"I don't care what they think."

"The Big Bang theory requires a miracle to start the expansion."

"The steady-state theory has always seemed the most logical explanation to me."

"A black cloud passing through the solar system would be the end of civilization as we know it."

"Intelligent life in the universe may not be confined to planets like Earth."

"Life could not have arisen on Earth by random processes."

"The cosmos has more surprises than we can ever imagine."

"Science is a process of making guesses that you then check against reality."

"Even the universe, vast as it is, follows certain rules."

FAQ

What is Fred Hoyle known for?

Fred Hoyle is famous for his theory of nucleosynthesis in stars and for opposing the 'Big Bang' theory, but he is also renowned for inventing the term 'steady state' for his own theory.

What is stellar nucleosynthesis?

Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process of forming stellar matter from lighter elements through nuclear fusion, a process that Hoyle explained.

What made Fred Hoyle not accept the Big Bang theory?

Hoyle rejected the Big Bang theory because he hated the notion of an 'edge'; thus, the universe's beginning was like a myth; he preferred the steady state theory.

What is steady state theory?

The steady-state theory is opposite to the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe has no beginning and no end and is constantly expanding. To maintain its density, new matter is created.

What is Hoyle's theory of panspermia?

Hoyle believed that life started from microorganisms or organic matter rather than from conditions on this Earth.

What awards did Fred Hoyle get?

Hoyle also served on the radar for the British Admiralty, helping with the technology to detect aircraft during the war.

What contribution did Fred Hoyle make during the Second World War?

Hoyle also served on the radar for the British Admiralty, helping with the technology to detect aircraft during the war.

What is the "Hoyle state"?

The "Hoyle state" is a particular excited state of the carbon-12 nucleus, which Hoyle referred to in his work on the triple-alpha process necessary for synthesizing carbon in stars.

I wonder if Fred Hoyle was writing science fiction.

Indeed, Hoyle penned several science fiction novels, among which is The Black Cloud, published in 1957. The author also wrote other books in collaboration with his son Geoffrey.

How was Fred Hoyle situated within the scientific community?

A scientist himself, Hoyle often conflicted with other scientists because of his radical ideas and was, therefore, revered and shunned by his colleagues.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Fred Hoyle was an English astronomer whose ideas and works substantially changed our view on astrophysics and cosmology regarding stars' processes and the universe's origin. Hoyle was born in Yorkshire in 1915, and his interest in mathematics and the universe developed at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he studied and was a professor and a fellow.
The war effort at the Admiralty and the subsequent work on radar technology gave him a view of new scientific development and a perspective on research that was expanded from his earlier work. He returned to Cambridge after the war and started his work on nucleosynthesis, which is the formation of star elements. Hoyle constructed his theory on stellar nucleosynthesis in 1954, which shaped astrophysics practices after its publication.

Hoyle's professional achievement was his rejection of the Big Bang theory, which he termed during a BBC radio broadcast in 1949. However, he supported the theory that the universe has no start or finish and is eternally expanding as it produces new matter all the time; this theory is known as the steady-state theory.
Despite the growing evidence favouring the Big Bang, Hoyle kept his mind open and debated the issue with numerous colleagues. In addition to cosmology, Hoyle actively defended the panspermia hypothesis, which states that life on our planet could have originated from spores in space. His reach also went into pop culture, where he penned several sci-fi novels, and with his son Geoffrey, they wrote numerous science-themed fiction and science-fiction television shows.

During the later years of his life, Hoyle gradually alienated himself from mainstream astrophysics because of his heretical views and personal misunderstandings with fellow scientists. However, his contributions to science were self-evident, and he received numerous awards posthumously, in particular, the Crafoord Prize in 1997 for his pioneering work on the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis. Hoyle never won a Nobel Prize, a choice many thought was political rather than scientific.
Still, his reputation as one of the most creative minds in astrophysics remains intact.

Quotes

"Space isn't remote at all. It's only an hour's drive away if your car could go straight upwards."

"The universe is not expanding from an origin point but is in a constant state of expansion, creating new matter all the time."

"A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics."

"Once a theory has been accepted, it becomes difficult to dislodge."

"It is better to be interesting and wrong than boring and right."

"Some super-calculating intellect must have designed the properties of the carbon atom."

"I don't care what they think."

"The Big Bang theory requires a miracle to start the expansion."

"The steady-state theory has always seemed the most logical explanation to me."

"A black cloud passing through the solar system would be the end of civilization as we know it."

"Intelligent life in the universe may not be confined to planets like Earth."

"Life could not have arisen on Earth by random processes."

"The cosmos has more surprises than we can ever imagine."

"Science is a process of making guesses that you then check against reality."

"Even the universe, vast as it is, follows certain rules."

FAQ

What is Fred Hoyle known for?

Fred Hoyle is famous for his theory of nucleosynthesis in stars and for opposing the 'Big Bang' theory, but he is also renowned for inventing the term 'steady state' for his own theory.

What is stellar nucleosynthesis?

Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process of forming stellar matter from lighter elements through nuclear fusion, a process that Hoyle explained.

What made Fred Hoyle not accept the Big Bang theory?

Hoyle rejected the Big Bang theory because he hated the notion of an 'edge'; thus, the universe's beginning was like a myth; he preferred the steady state theory.

What is steady state theory?

The steady-state theory is opposite to the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe has no beginning and no end and is constantly expanding. To maintain its density, new matter is created.

What is Hoyle's theory of panspermia?

Hoyle believed that life started from microorganisms or organic matter rather than from conditions on this Earth.

What awards did Fred Hoyle get?

Hoyle also served on the radar for the British Admiralty, helping with the technology to detect aircraft during the war.

What contribution did Fred Hoyle make during the Second World War?

Hoyle also served on the radar for the British Admiralty, helping with the technology to detect aircraft during the war.

What is the "Hoyle state"?

The "Hoyle state" is a particular excited state of the carbon-12 nucleus, which Hoyle referred to in his work on the triple-alpha process necessary for synthesizing carbon in stars.

I wonder if Fred Hoyle was writing science fiction.

Indeed, Hoyle penned several science fiction novels, among which is The Black Cloud, published in 1957. The author also wrote other books in collaboration with his son Geoffrey.

How was Fred Hoyle situated within the scientific community?

A scientist himself, Hoyle often conflicted with other scientists because of his radical ideas and was, therefore, revered and shunned by his colleagues.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Fred Hoyle was an English astronomer whose ideas and works substantially changed our view on astrophysics and cosmology regarding stars' processes and the universe's origin. Hoyle was born in Yorkshire in 1915, and his interest in mathematics and the universe developed at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he studied and was a professor and a fellow.
The war effort at the Admiralty and the subsequent work on radar technology gave him a view of new scientific development and a perspective on research that was expanded from his earlier work. He returned to Cambridge after the war and started his work on nucleosynthesis, which is the formation of star elements. Hoyle constructed his theory on stellar nucleosynthesis in 1954, which shaped astrophysics practices after its publication.

Hoyle's professional achievement was his rejection of the Big Bang theory, which he termed during a BBC radio broadcast in 1949. However, he supported the theory that the universe has no start or finish and is eternally expanding as it produces new matter all the time; this theory is known as the steady-state theory.
Despite the growing evidence favouring the Big Bang, Hoyle kept his mind open and debated the issue with numerous colleagues. In addition to cosmology, Hoyle actively defended the panspermia hypothesis, which states that life on our planet could have originated from spores in space. His reach also went into pop culture, where he penned several sci-fi novels, and with his son Geoffrey, they wrote numerous science-themed fiction and science-fiction television shows.

During the later years of his life, Hoyle gradually alienated himself from mainstream astrophysics because of his heretical views and personal misunderstandings with fellow scientists. However, his contributions to science were self-evident, and he received numerous awards posthumously, in particular, the Crafoord Prize in 1997 for his pioneering work on the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis. Hoyle never won a Nobel Prize, a choice many thought was political rather than scientific.
Still, his reputation as one of the most creative minds in astrophysics remains intact.

Quotes

"Space isn't remote at all. It's only an hour's drive away if your car could go straight upwards."

"The universe is not expanding from an origin point but is in a constant state of expansion, creating new matter all the time."

"A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics."

"Once a theory has been accepted, it becomes difficult to dislodge."

"It is better to be interesting and wrong than boring and right."

"Some super-calculating intellect must have designed the properties of the carbon atom."

"I don't care what they think."

"The Big Bang theory requires a miracle to start the expansion."

"The steady-state theory has always seemed the most logical explanation to me."

"A black cloud passing through the solar system would be the end of civilization as we know it."

"Intelligent life in the universe may not be confined to planets like Earth."

"Life could not have arisen on Earth by random processes."

"The cosmos has more surprises than we can ever imagine."

"Science is a process of making guesses that you then check against reality."

"Even the universe, vast as it is, follows certain rules."

FAQ

What is Fred Hoyle known for?

Fred Hoyle is famous for his theory of nucleosynthesis in stars and for opposing the 'Big Bang' theory, but he is also renowned for inventing the term 'steady state' for his own theory.

What is stellar nucleosynthesis?

Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process of forming stellar matter from lighter elements through nuclear fusion, a process that Hoyle explained.

What made Fred Hoyle not accept the Big Bang theory?

Hoyle rejected the Big Bang theory because he hated the notion of an 'edge'; thus, the universe's beginning was like a myth; he preferred the steady state theory.

What is steady state theory?

The steady-state theory is opposite to the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe has no beginning and no end and is constantly expanding. To maintain its density, new matter is created.

What is Hoyle's theory of panspermia?

Hoyle believed that life started from microorganisms or organic matter rather than from conditions on this Earth.

What awards did Fred Hoyle get?

Hoyle also served on the radar for the British Admiralty, helping with the technology to detect aircraft during the war.

What contribution did Fred Hoyle make during the Second World War?

Hoyle also served on the radar for the British Admiralty, helping with the technology to detect aircraft during the war.

What is the "Hoyle state"?

The "Hoyle state" is a particular excited state of the carbon-12 nucleus, which Hoyle referred to in his work on the triple-alpha process necessary for synthesizing carbon in stars.

I wonder if Fred Hoyle was writing science fiction.

Indeed, Hoyle penned several science fiction novels, among which is The Black Cloud, published in 1957. The author also wrote other books in collaboration with his son Geoffrey.

How was Fred Hoyle situated within the scientific community?

A scientist himself, Hoyle often conflicted with other scientists because of his radical ideas and was, therefore, revered and shunned by his colleagues.

Life and achievements

Early life

The future astronomer was born on June 24, 1915, in Gilstead, a village in West Yorkshire, England; his parents were modest. His father was in the wool trade, and his mother was a piano teacher, so Hoyle had a musical and academic upbringing.
Hoyle's boyhood interest was in science and mathematics, and he proved himself in these fields at Bingley Grammar School. Hoyle, in 1933, got a scholarship to join Emmanuel College, Cambridge, to do mathematics and developed a passion for cosmology.

During his time at Cambridge, he got accustomed to some of the best scientific minds and developed a keen interest in the universe's workings. Hoyle had set aside his academic work and joined the British Admiralty during World War II, where he worked on detecting the enemy's planes.

In the same year, Hoyle returned to Cambridge and started making his most revolutionary revelations in astrophysics. His first paper on nucleosynthesis came in 1946, arguing that stars synthesized elements heavier than hydrogen through nuclear reactions. His work in the triple-alpha process, which sees helium atoms combine to form carbon in the stars, is widely acclaimed and revolutionized astrophysics.

Hoyle's theoretical predictions were verified experimentally, adding to his fame as a genius and a creative scientist.

Legacy

Fred Hoyle's legacy consists of his scientific achievements in astrophysics and the popularization of science. His work on the synthesis of elements in stars, particularly processes that lead to the formation of heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen, is still considered one of the primary pillars of modern astrophysics.

Hoyle's theories have proved very influential in understanding stars' life cycles and the universe's chemistry. His communicative skills lay in his gift of translating intricate scientific concepts into plain language and turning them into popular and sometimes polemic discourses, which enabled him to present the public with state-of-the-art science, including that which went against the grain.

Even though the concept of the Big Bang replaced Hoyle's steady-state theory, his ability to question and come up with unique ideas in cosmology made a lasting impact. Hoyle's dismissal of the Big Bang and advocacy of such outrageous theories as panspermia showed his rebellious stance towards science.

Even though most of his theories were not accepted by his peers, Hoyle made a significant contribution to astrophysics and his works are still appreciated.

Hoyle also wrote a lot and was a famous science writer and science fiction writer. His novel The Black Cloud (1957) deals with interstellar communication and the outer space menace, showing that Hoyle can turn science into science fiction.

Besides, he continued his work beyond academia in science fiction with his son Geoffrey. Despite not being awarded the Nobel Prize, Hoyle was rewarded for his science with the Crafoord Prize and the Royal Medal. Hoyle died in 2001. However, his theories and desire to know more about the universe still influence scientists and philosophers.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Milestone moments

Mar 4, 1946

Publication of Hoyle's First Paper on Stellar Nucleosynthesis
Fred Hoyle was the first to publish the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis in 1946, which stated that stars are the sites that create heavies and elements by nuclear fusion.
This work has reformulated our knowledge about how carbon, oxygen, and iron are created and gave us a complete account of why these are so numerous in the universe.
This paper by Hoyle provided the basis for astrophysics as we know it today, changing the way people conceive the life cycle of stars and the formation of matter within the universe.

Mar 18, 1949

Co-Introduction of the Steady-State Theory
In 1949, Hoyle, Thomas Gold, and Hermann Bondi proposed the steady state theory, which claimed that the universe has existed forever and that new matter is created as it expands.
This theory contradicts the Big Bang theory, which stated that the universe originated and hence was the primary debate in cosmology.
While Hoyle's steady-state theory ultimately failed, it forced cosmologists to think more deeply about how and why the universe came into existence and continues to expand.

Apr 16, 1954

Theoretical Prediction of the Hoyle State in Carbon-12
This paper presents a theoretical study to predict the Hoyle state in the carbon-12 nucleus.
In 1954, Hoyle was to make a second critical prediction about the existence of a particular energy state in carbon-12. The nucleus had to exist for the formation of carbon in the stars.
This prediction, which was verified experimentally later on, was crucial for understanding why carbon, one of the basic elements of life, is so diversified in the universe.
Hoyle's contribution to understanding the triple-alpha process was a significant scientific discovery that enhanced his reputation as an astrophysics giant.

Mar 21, 1957

Publication of the B2FH Paper
In 1957, he co-wrote the B2FH paper with Margaret, Geoffrey Burbidge, and William Fowler, which described nucleosynthesis in stars and outlined processes of element formation in stars.
This paper was an essential reference in astrophysics for years of compiled knowledge on how elements are created and where they are located.
The B2FH paper is still one of the most frequently cited papers, showing that Hoyle's impact on stellar and chemical evolution research remained strong.

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