Israeli Dan Shechtman~2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry!

Prof. Dan Shechtman

Israel has another Nobel Prize winner! Dan Schectman was awarded the 2011 prize in Chemistry for his discovery of quasicrystals, ordered crystalline materials lacking repeating structures. This explanation is taken from an article in the Jerusalem Post:

His realization that atoms in rigid crystals can be packed together in unusual ways led to the development of extremely strong materials. He thus changed the way chemists look at solid matter, and his discovery has many practical applications: from metal surgical tools and razor blades to diesel engines and as protective coatings and metal alloys.

"Quasiperiodic, or quasicrystals, do not rust or become oxidized and have almost no surface friction", Shechtman said.

It should be noted that when he first made his claims he experienced hostility, and was told that there was no such thing as quasicrystals, only quasi-scientists and that he should go back to his text books. He persevered...

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 24 January 1941, Prof. Shechtman earned all of his degrees at the Technion in Haifa (that's also in Israel). He is the father of four, and grandfather of nine. When asked who influenced his career he candidly answers, "Jules Vern...in his book, Mystery Island  (which he read in Hebrew) was a character named Cyrus Smith~he was an engineer and he could do everything~I wanted to be just like him"...

Mazel Tov Prof. Dan Shechtman!