Enrico Fermi

Physicist

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Enrico Fermi was a nobel prize winning physicist who made monumental contributions to the development of nuclear energy and the Manhattan Project.  He is sometimes referred to as the "architect of the nuclear age".   Beyond his contributions to the USA nuclear programs, he made significant discoveries and provided insights into statistical mechanics, quantum theory and cosmology.   He is well known for the "Fermi Paradox" which poses the question about why we haven't found intelligent alien life, given the extremely likely possibility that advanced alien life exists in the vast expanse of the universe. 

Quotes by Enrico Fermi

"Where is everybody?  Humans could theoretically colonize the galaxy in a million years or so, and if they could, astronauts from older civilizations could do the same.  So why haven't they come to Earth?" - Enrico Fermi

"The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon, the hydrogen bomb makes its very existence and the knowledge of its construction a danger to humanity as a whole. It is necessarily an evil thing considered in any light. For these reasons, we believe it important for the President of the United States to tell the American public and the world what we think is wrong on fundamental ethical principles to initiate the development of such a weapon." - Enrico Fermi