American Biography

Dr. Luis Alvarez, whose family was of Spanish descent, was a noted physicist in the 20^th century. His work included identifying subatomic particles, creating the atomic bomb, and studying the impact of asteroids on the earth. He won the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Dr. Alvarez worked with Dr. Oppenheimer on the Manhattan Project, the code name for the secret project to develop an atomic bomb during World War II.

With the help of his son Walter, a geologist, Alvarez proved that asteroids colliding with the earth’s surface were responsible for severe climate changes 65 million years ago. These climate changes had a number of effects on the earth, including the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Alvarez spent most of his career working at the University of California, Berkeley.

Alvarez was also a Professor of Physics at other universities.