František Behounek
Encyclopedia
František Běhounek (ˈfrancɪʃɛk ˈbjɛɦounɛk; October 28, 1898 Prague
– January 1, 1973 Karlovy Vary
) was a Czech
scientist (radiologist), explorer and writer.
The asteroid 3278 Běhounek
is named after him.
in France at Marie Curie-Skłodowska
. In 1920s, he was one of the founders of State Radiological Institute. In 1926, he took part in an expedition of Roald Amundsen
to the North Pole
with airship Norge. In 1928, as an expert on cosmic rays, he was a member of crew of airship Italia
led by Umberto Nobile
. He survived its crash in 1928, and later described it in book Trosečníci na kře ledové.
As a scientist, he worked in industrial companies, medical institutions, universities and in the state academy. Since the 1950s, he has participated in work of UNESCO
.
) and many scientific works.
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
– January 1, 1973 Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
) was a Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
scientist (radiologist), explorer and writer.
The asteroid 3278 Běhounek
3278 Behounek
3278 Běhounek is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 2105.8373988 days .The asteroid was discovered on January 27, 1984 by Antonín Mrkos at Kleť Observatory and named after the Czech radiologist and writer František Běhounek....
is named after him.
Biography
Běhounek studied physics and mathematics at Charles University, later radiologyRadiology
Radiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
in France at Marie Curie-Skłodowska
Marie Curie
Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a physicist and chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes—in physics and chemistry...
. In 1920s, he was one of the founders of State Radiological Institute. In 1926, he took part in an expedition of Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
to the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
with airship Norge. In 1928, as an expert on cosmic rays, he was a member of crew of airship Italia
Airship Italia
Airship Italia was a semi-rigid airship used by Italian engineer Umberto Nobile in his second series of flights around the North Pole.-Design and specifications:...
led by Umberto Nobile
Umberto Nobile
Umberto Nobile was an Italian aeronautical engineer and Arctic explorer. Nobile was a developer and promoter of semi-rigid airships during the Golden Age of Aviation between the two World Wars...
. He survived its crash in 1928, and later described it in book Trosečníci na kře ledové.
As a scientist, he worked in industrial companies, medical institutions, universities and in the state academy. Since the 1950s, he has participated in work of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Works
Běhounek published about 28 novels (most of them targeted to young people, popularizing science or science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
) and many scientific works.
- Boj o zeměkouli – sci-fi novel (Prague, 1939)
- Svět nejmenších rozměrů - (Prague, 1945)
- Případ profesora Hrona – sci-fi novel(Prague, 1947)
- Swansonova výprava – sci-fi novel (Prague, 1949)
- Tajemství polárního moře. – (Prague, 1942)
- Akce L (1956)
- Robinsoni vesmíru (1958)
- Tábor v lese (Prague, 1960)
- Kletba zlata - short stories (Prague, 1942)
- Fregata pluje kolem světa - adventure novel about Austrian ImperialAustrian EmpireThe Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
expedition of SMS NovaraSMS Novara (1850)SMS Novara was a sail frigate of the Austro-Hungarian Navy most noted for sailing the globe for the Novara Expedition of 1857–1859 and, later for carrying Archduke Maximilian and wife Carlota to Vera Cruz in May 1864 to become Emperor and Empress of Mexico.-Service :The SMS Novara was a frigate...
(Prague,1969)