Frits Zernike

thumb|How quick are we to learn, that is, to imitate what others have done or thought before. And how slow to understand, that is, to see the deeper connections… Frits Zernike (July 16, 1888 – March 10, 1966) was a Dutch physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1953 for his invention of the phase contrast microscope, an instrument that permits the study of internal cell structure without the need to stain and thus kill the cells. Quotes I am impressed by the great limitations of the human mind. How quick are we to learn, that is, to imitate what others have done or thought before. And how slow to understand, that is, to see the deeper connections. Slowest of all, however, are we in inventing new connections or even in applying old ideas in a new field. His Nobel lecture, "How I Discovered Phase Contrast" (11December 1953) External links Frits Zernike Biography Profile of Frits Zernike at Nobel-winners.com "How I Discovered Phase Contrast", his Nobel lecture (11December 1953) Extended Nijboer-Zernike theory Category:Academics from the Netherlands Category:Physicists from the Netherlands Category:Inventors Category:Nobel laureates in Physics Category:People from Amsterdam Category:1888 births Category:1966 deaths Category:Nobel laureates from the Netherlands