Edward Witten

Edward Witten is an American theoretical physicist known for his contributions to string theory, topological quantum field theory, and various areas of mathematics. He is a professor emeritus in the school of natural sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Witten is a researcher in string theory, quantum gravity, supersymmetric quantum field theories, and other areas of mathematical physics. Witten's work has also significantly impacted pure mathematics. In 1990, he became the first physicist to be awarded a Fields Medal by the International Mathematical Union, for his mathematical insights in physics, such as his 1981 proof of the positive energy theorem in general relativity, and his interpretation of the Jones invariants of knots as Feynman integrals. He is considered the practical founder of M-theory.

26 August 1951

Born on the same birth date (26 August 1951): Bill Whitaker (journalist) • Gerd Bonk

Born on the same birth day (26 August): Andrea Saltelli • Jeff Parrett • Jim Davis (actor) • Kálmán Markovits • Mother Teresa • Noah Welch

Born in the same month (August 1951): Bill Whitaker (journalist) • Bobby Caldwell • Buddy Bell • Burgess Owens • Dan Fogelberg • Danny Joe Brown • Gediminas Kirkilas • Gustavo Santaolalla • Jay North • Jimi Jamison • John Deacon • Keiichi Suzuki • Klaus Toppmöller • Louis van Gaal • Marcel Dionne • Mark Hudson (musician) • Randy Shilts • Richard Hunt (puppeteer) • Slim Dunlap • Tim Bachman • Tommy Bolin • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua