David Raymond Layzer (December 31, 1925 – August 16, 2019) was an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, and the Donald H. Menzel Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Harvard University.[2][3][4] He is known for his cosmological theory of the expansion of the universe, which postulates that its order and information are increasing despite the second law of thermodynamics.[5] He is also known for being one of the most notable researchers who advocated for a Cold Big Bang theory.[6][7] When he proposed this theory in 1966, he suggested it would solve Olbers' paradox, which holds that the night sky on Earth should be much brighter than it actually is.[8] He also published several articles critiquing hereditarian views on human intelligence, such as those of Richard Herrnstein and Arthur Jensen.[9][10] He became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1963,[11] and was also a member of Divisions B and J of the International Astronomical Union.[12] He died in Belmont at the age of 93 in 2019.[13]
David Layzer | |
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Born | (1925-12-31)December 31, 1925 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | August 16, 2019(2019-08-16) (aged 93) Belmont, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Education | Harvard University (A.B., 1947; Ph.D., 1950)[1] |
Known for | Cold Big Bang |
Awards | Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Astrophysics |
Institutions | Harvard University |
Thesis | Two problems in the theory of atomic spectra: orbit-orbit interaction and central fields (1950) |
Doctoral advisor | Donald H. Menzel |
Notable students | Carlos Varsavsky Joseph Silk |
General | |
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National libraries | |
Scientific databases | |
Other |
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