Her writings
Marietta Blau, an Austrian physicist, revolutionized the study of atomic particles and cosmic rays. Her PhD on gamma-ray absorption and her photographic methods opened new horizons in nuclear physics. Discover her scientific approach, major discoveries, and the lasting impact of her work on modern science.
A Visionary Thesis
In 1919, Marietta Blau defended her PhD at the University of Vienna under the guidance of physicist Stefan Meyer.
Her topic: gamma-ray absorption, a field still little explored at the time. Her thesis marked the beginning of an exceptional scientific career.
Blau demonstrated extraordinary experimental rigor and introduced methods that became the foundation for her future research.
Reinventing physics through images
Marietta Blau developed a groundbreaking photographic method to detect high-energy particles. Her photographic emulsions captured the invisible traces of subatomic particles, revealing their paths and behavior.
This technique enabled the first observation of decay stars, providing direct evidence of cosmic particles at extremely high energies.
Thanks to this innovation, Blau opened a new era in experimental physics and influenced generations of researchers, including Cecil Powell, later a Nobel Prize winner.