Wolf V. Vishniac
Encyclopedia
Wolf V. Vishniac was an American
microbiologist
, son of Roman Vishniac
. Educated at Brooklyn College
and Stanford University
, he was a professor
of Biology
at the University of Rochester
. He died while on a research trip to the Antarctic
while attempting to retrieve equipment down a crevice. The crater Vishniac
on Mars
is named in his honor. Wolf had three sons, David Obadiah ("Obie"), Ethan
and Ephraim, the first of whom died at the age of ten, Ethan and Ephraim being an astrophysicist and software engineer respectively, with his wife Helen Vishniac, daughter of George Gaylord Simpson
, who was later a professor of microbiology
at Oklahoma State University.
Wolf Vishniac contributed greatly to the search for life on Mars by developing a special miniature laboratory that could be flown to that planet. This research was supported by a NASA
grant, which started in 1959 and was the very first ever for the "biological sciences." The Viking 1
Mars probe contained such a device but did not find any conclusive signs of life.
He was also a friend to Carl Sagan
. In 5th episode of his show Cosmos
entitled "Blues for a Red Planet," Sagan talks about Vishniac's death and his microbiological sensor (nicknamed the "Wolf Trap") which was supposed to go on Viking 1
, but did not make it due to budget cuts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
microbiologist
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
, son of Roman Vishniac
Roman Vishniac
Roman Vishniac was a Russian-American photographer, best known for capturing on film the culture of Jews in Central and Eastern Europe before the Holocaust. A complete archive of his work now rests at the International Center of Photography....
. Educated at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, he was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. He died while on a research trip to the Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
while attempting to retrieve equipment down a crevice. The crater Vishniac
Vishniac (crater)
Vishniac is a largest crater of the Martian surface feature called the Giant's Footprint. It was named after Wolf V. Vishniac, a microbiologist who died on an expedition to Antarctica. Fittingly, the crater lies in the Antarctic of Mars. The feature was originally observed by Mariner 7 in 1969...
on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
is named in his honor. Wolf had three sons, David Obadiah ("Obie"), Ethan
Ethan Vishniac
Ethan Tecumseh Vishniac is an American astrophysicist, son of Wolf V. Vishniac, and grandson of Roman Vishniac. He is the Editor-in-Chiefof the Astrophysical Journal, Director of the Center for Astrophysical Sciences and a professor of Astronomy at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada...
and Ephraim, the first of whom died at the age of ten, Ethan and Ephraim being an astrophysicist and software engineer respectively, with his wife Helen Vishniac, daughter of George Gaylord Simpson
George Gaylord Simpson
George Gaylord Simpson was an American paleontologist. Simpson was perhaps the most influential paleontologist of the twentieth century, and a major participant in the modern evolutionary synthesis, contributing Tempo and mode in evolution , The meaning of evolution and The major features of...
, who was later a professor of microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
at Oklahoma State University.
Wolf Vishniac contributed greatly to the search for life on Mars by developing a special miniature laboratory that could be flown to that planet. This research was supported by a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
grant, which started in 1959 and was the very first ever for the "biological sciences." The Viking 1
Viking 1
Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA's Viking program. It was the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars and perform its mission, and until May 19, 2010 held the record for the second longest Mars surface mission of 6 years and 116 days .- Mission :Following...
Mars probe contained such a device but did not find any conclusive signs of life.
He was also a friend to Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan
Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books...
. In 5th episode of his show Cosmos
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage is a thirteen-part television series written by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan, and Steven Soter, with Sagan as presenter. It was executive-produced by Adrian Malone, produced by David Kennard, Geoffrey Haines-Stiles and Gregory Andorfer, and directed by the producers, David...
entitled "Blues for a Red Planet," Sagan talks about Vishniac's death and his microbiological sensor (nicknamed the "Wolf Trap") which was supposed to go on Viking 1
Viking 1
Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA's Viking program. It was the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars and perform its mission, and until May 19, 2010 held the record for the second longest Mars surface mission of 6 years and 116 days .- Mission :Following...
, but did not make it due to budget cuts.