Enrico Fermi

Enrico Fermi was born in Italy in 1901. He was very smart, even as a young boy. He grew up to be one of the best physicists in the world. Fermi studied how atoms work. He won a Nobel Prize in 1938.

A Brilliant Young Mind

Fermi loved math and science from the start. He read science books when he was only ten years old. He went to college in Italy and became a teacher. He studied how tiny bits called atoms behave. His ideas changed the way people thought about matter.

His Big Discovery

Fermi learned how to split the center of an atom. This is called nuclear fission. He built the first machine that could control this power. The machine was called a nuclear reactor. His work led to both power plants and big changes in science.

Fun Facts

• A kind of tiny particle is called a 'fermion' in his honor.
• He moved to the United States to escape unfair laws in Italy.
• Element number 100 is named 'fermium' after him.

Did You Know?

Fermi made the first nuclear reactor work under the seats of a football field at the University of Chicago.