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Elise Meitner

🎓 Physicist ⏳ 1878 – 1968

⭐ Historical Significance

Meitner's insight unlocked atomic energy, influencing reactors and weapons while symbolising women's contributions to science

Biography & Life

Austrian‑born Meitner joined Berlin's Kaiser‑Wilhelm Institute, collaborating with Otto Hahn. Fleeing Nazi persecution, she interpreted Hahn's results as fission, publishing with nephew Otto Frisch. Element 109, meitnerium, honours her.

Historical Significance

Meitner's insight unlocked atomic energy, influencing reactors and weapons while symbolising women's contributions to science

Key Facts

Profession: Physicist
Lifespan: 1878 – 1968
Nationality: Austrian‑born German‑Swedish