This year, Jews received four Nobel Prizes out of six categories: in Physics, Economics, Literature, and Medicine. Today, nearly a quarter — 22.5% — of all Nobel laureates are Jewish, even though Jews make up only about 0.2% of the global population. Despite millions of highly educated people around the world, Jewish scientists continue to win this prestigious competition more often than others.
It so happened that, among all nations, Jews have contributed the highest percentage of Nobel laureates and scientific discoveries. And Israel — founded in the desert and surrounded by hostile neighbors — has become the “Startup Nation.”
We’ve compiled a list of the greatest Jewish minds who gave the world inventions and discoveries that once changed the course of history.
1. Albert Einstein – Theory of RelativityPhysicist Albert Einstein was the author of the theory of relativity, which forever changed our understanding of the universe. At the dawn of the first technological century, Einstein revealed the limitless potential of matter. His famous equation, E = mc², became synonymous with the concept that energy and mass are interchangeable.
2. Sigmund Freud – PsychoanalysisSigmund Freud is universally known as the father of psychoanalytic theory and practice. He wasn’t the first psychologist, but he’s the first name people recall when discussing mental disorders.
3. Karl Marx – CommunismKarl Heinrich Marx remains the most influential political philosopher in Jewish — and perhaps world — history.
4. Theodor Herzl – The State of IsraelJewish public figure, journalist, and writer Theodor Herzl published a pamphlet in 1896 proclaiming the necessity of establishing a Jewish state. While others before him had called for a return to Zion, it was Herzl’s utopian vision and political fervor in founding the Zionist movement that ultimately led, fifty years later, to the creation of the State of Israel. He is considered the founder of the World Zionist Organization and the father of political Zionism.
5. Niels Henrik David Bohr – Theory of Atomic Reactions and Nuclear EnergyNiels Bohr is regarded as one of the founders of modern physics. His contributions to quantum mechanics, atomic nuclei, and atomic reactions are numerous and groundbreaking.
6. Paul Ehrlich – ChemotherapyScientist, immunologist, bacteriologist, and chemist, Paul Ehrlich made history as the pioneer of chemotherapy.
7. Karl Landsteiner – Blood Types and Rh FactorHe classified human blood into groups and discovered the Rh factor, making blood transfusions a standard medical practice.
8. Selman Abraham Waksman – StreptomycinSelman Waksman was the first to isolate streptomycin — an antibiotic that effectively treats tuberculosis. His discoveries launched the "golden age of antibiotics" and saved millions of lives. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for this achievement.
9. Gertrude Elion – AcyclovirGertrude Elion made history by developing acyclovir — the most effective drug against herpesvirus infections.
10. Boris Rosing – TelevisionAlthough nearly everyone on Earth uses the invention of Boris Rosing, his name remains little known. A professor at the St. Petersburg Institute of Technology, he was the first to demonstrate electronic television back in 1911.
11. Levi Strauss – JeansThe world’s beloved jeans were invented by Levi Strauss, who ran a ready-to-wear clothing store in California during the Gold Rush. The first jeans were sewn from canvas used for tents. Thus, a Jewish immigrant from Germany found his "gold mine" — without ever swinging a pickaxe.
12. Fernand Widal – Typhoid TestFernand Widal developed a reaction used for diagnosing typhoid fever and preventing it — the Widal test — as well as a test for certain types of salmonella infections.
13. Norbert Wiener – CyberneticsMathematician Norbert Wiener invented cybernetics, which in turn gave birth to such revolutionary concepts as artificial intelligence, computer vision, robotics, neural networks, and more. He was also the one who introduced the modern meaning of the word “feedback.”
14. Emile Berliner – Microphone, Gramophone, HelicopterEmile Berliner gifted the world several key inventions: the microphone, the gramophone, and the helicopter.
15. John George Kemeny – BASICJohn Kemeny was the creator of the BASIC programming language — a scientist, educator, and reformer whose legacy is still in use today. He was the first to systematically introduce computers into the educational process.
16–17. Sergey Brin & Larry Page – GoogleIn the late 1990s, Larry Page and Sergey Brin co-founded Google, a company that reshaped the world no less than Microsoft or Apple did, and laid the foundation for the digital economy.
18. Leó Szilárd – Nuclear Chain ReactionLeó Szilárd, a Hungarian-Jewish physicist, was one of the pioneers of the nuclear chain reaction. He proposed using it to generate energy and, later, to develop the atomic bomb. Szilárd also co-authored the famous Einstein–Roosevelt letter that initiated the Manhattan Project.
19. Dani Gold – Iron DomeBrigadier General of the Israeli Air Force Dani Gold was the key initiator and leader of the development of the Iron Dome missile defense system. Despite initial skepticism, he insisted on creating this revolutionary technology that now saves thousands of lives by intercepting rockets fired at Israeli cities. For his contribution, he was awarded the Israel Defense Prize.
20. Édouard Bénédictus – Bulletproof GlassÉdouard Bénédictus was truly a man of many talents: a musician, painter, and designer — and also the inventor of shatterproof glass, which continues to save lives in car accidents to this day.
21. Mikhail Mil – "Mi" Series HelicoptersA legend of Soviet and global helicopter engineering, Mikhail Mil oversaw the creation of numerous helicopters including the Mi-1, Mi-4, Mi-6, Mi-10, and V-12. More than 80 official world records were set using helicopters developed under his leadership.
22. Mikhail Gurevich – MiG AircraftAerospace engineer Mikhail Gurevich was the designer behind the MiG aircraft, which went on to receive worldwide recognition.
23. Kazimierz Funk – VitaminsThose who take vitamins owe thanks to Kazimierz Funk — a Polish Jew who first systematized the idea of essential dietary elements and coined the now-famous term “vitamin.”
24. Max Born – Quantum MechanicsMax Born was one of the founding figures of quantum mechanics. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics and is remembered not only as a brilliant scientist but also as a public advocate for peace and nuclear disarmament.
25. Gustav Ludwig Hertz – Quantum MechanicsGustav Hertz won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1925 (together with James Franck) for discovering the laws of electron collisions with atoms. He was the first scientist to directly measure quantum energy levels.
26. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow – Insulin Measurement MethodRosalyn Yalow developed the radioimmunoassay technique for measuring insulin levels in the blood — a breakthrough that has saved millions of lives.
27. Edwin Land – Polaroid Camera, Spy Tech, and MoreEdwin Land held 535 patents. Among his inventions were polarizers, X-ray film, night vision devices for the military, and much more. His greatest achievement was founding the Polaroid Corporation, which sold around one billion cameras in the mid-1970s. Land also laid the foundation for what would become Silicon Valley. Apple founder Steve Jobs called Land his lifelong idol.
28. Gregory Goodwin Pincus – Birth Control PillsGregory Pincus is known as one of the inventors of the oral contraceptive pill.
29. Waldemar Mordechai Haffkine – Plague and Cholera VaccinesWaldemar Haffkine was a bacteriologist, immunologist, and epidemiologist. A true savior of humanity and a great philanthropist, he developed the first vaccines against plague and cholera — and even tested them on himself.
30. André Citroën – Citroën AutomobilesThe Citroën automobile company, founded in 1919 by André Citroën, aimed to mass-produce affordable cars. Citroën became the first mass-produced car in Europe.
31. August Paul von Wassermann – Syphilis Diagnostic TestBacteriologist and immunologist August Wassermann developed a method for diagnosing syphilis, known as the Wassermann reaction.
32. Matvei Bronstein – Quantum Theory of GravityOne of the key missing links in physics — quantum gravity — was first introduced by a little-known Soviet physicist named Matvei Bronstein. He was not only an outstanding theorist, but also a gifted educator and science popularizer.
33. Ferdinand Julius Cohn – MicrobiologyFerdinand Cohn is considered one of the founding fathers of modern bacteriology and microbiology.
34. Baruch Samuel Blumberg – Hepatitis AntigenNobel Prize winner Baruch Blumberg was recognized for “discovering new mechanisms for the origin and spread of infectious diseases.” He identified the hepatitis B virus and developed both a diagnostic test and a vaccine against it.
35. Tadeusz Reichstein – Ascorbic AcidIn 1933, chemist Tadeusz Reichstein synthesized a powerful antioxidant in his lab — L-ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C.
36. Isaac Asimov – The Three Laws of RoboticsThe Three Laws of Robotics — fundamental behavioral rules for artificial intelligence to prevent harm to humans — were first formulated by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov in 1942:
A robot may not harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
37. Alexander Romanovich Luria – NeuropsychologyAlexander Luria laid the foundation for an entire scientific field at the intersection of psychology and neuroscience — neuropsychology.
38. Robert Hofstadter – X-Ray and Gamma Ray CountersExperimental physicist Robert Hofstadter developed detectors for X-rays, gamma rays, and neutrons. His research on high-energy electron scattering in atomic nuclei led to the discovery of the internal structure of nucleons.
39. Betty Friedan – FeminismBetty Friedan is considered a founder of modern feminism. In 1963, she published “The Feminine Mystique,” a book that became a kind of "bible" for independent women. She also coined the term “sexism” to describe gender-based discrimination.
40. Paul Berg – Genetic EngineeringThe term “genetic engineering” has become a staple of modern science, thanks to Paul Berg, who created the world’s first recombinant DNA. He laid the groundwork for the entire field of genetic manipulation.
41. Alexander Friedmann – Modern Cosmology and the Big Bang TheoryAlexander Friedmann is inseparably linked with such fundamental concepts as redshift, the expansion of galaxies, Friedmann equations, cosmological models, and the Big Bang Theory. He was the founder of modern cosmology — the scientific study of the Universe as a unified whole.
42. Boris Jacobi – Electric Motor, ElectroformingThe first practically useful electric motor — one that was immediately applied in practice — was created by the outstanding electrical engineer Boris Jacobi. He also became famous for inventing electroforming and developed a telegraph machine that could print letters.
43. Hedy Lamarr – “Secret Communication System” TechnologyA Hollywood actress with a passion for science, Hedy Lamarr co-invented a radio communication system resistant to interception. Her work laid the foundation for spread-spectrum communication — the technology behind modern mobile phones and Wi-Fi.
44. Hyman George Rickover – Nuclear SubmarineAdmiral Hyman Rickover, the creator of the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, remains a legendary figure — a name that lives on as long as nuclear navies exist.
45. Mark Elliot Zuckerberg – FacebookYoung programming prodigy Mark Zuckerberg gave the world the social media platform Facebook.
46. Paul Baran – The InternetEngineer and computer science pioneer Paul Baran developed the method of data transmission between computers that became the foundation of ARPANET — the U.S. Department of Defense’s research network created in 1969, and the prototype of today’s Internet. He is often called the “father of the Internet.”
47. Clara Zetkin – March 8th (International Women’s Day)Women’s rights activist Clara Zetkin is credited with proposing the idea of International Women’s Day — March 8th.
48. Albert Abraham Michelson – InterferometerExperimental physicist Albert Michelson designed the interferometer, a tool that allowed scientists to study optical phenomena through the interference of light waves.
49. Hans Albrecht Bethe – Energy Source of StarsHans Bethe discovered the proton–proton and carbon–nitrogen fusion cycles — nuclear reactions that serve as the energy source of stars.
50. Milton Friedman – Monetary Economic TheoryEconomist Milton Friedman was the founder of monetarism — a macroeconomic theory asserting that the money supply is the key driver of economic development.
51–59. Founders of Hollywood
William Fox – 20th Century Fox
Carl Laemmle – Universal Pictures
Adolph Zukor – Paramount Pictures
William Fox – Fox Film Corporation
Louis B. Mayer – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Harry, Sam, Albert, and Jack Warner – Warner Bros.
All of them were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Each individually founded a film studio, and together they laid the foundation of the American film industry — giving the world Hollywood.
60–63. Arik Vardi, Yair Goldfinger, Sefi Vigiser, and Amnon Amir – ICQThe world’s first messenger, ICQ, appeared in 1996 thanks to four high school students from Israel.
64. David Rothman – Verum MessengerBusinessman, philanthropist, and tech visionary David Rothman created Verum Messenger — one of the first messaging platforms with integrated artificial intelligence. His innovation brought together technological security, privacy, and AI support in one solution. In addition to messenger development, Rothman also works on mobile applications and cryptocurrency platforms, and his philanthropic initiatives support young developers and high-tech startups.
65. Herman Goldstine – The First ComputerHerman Goldstine was the project manager of the team that developed ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) — the first general-purpose electronic digital computer and the prototype of the modern computer.
66. John von Neumann – Modern Computer ArchitectureJohn von Neumann made major contributions to quantum physics, logic, functional analysis, set theory, computer science, and economics. He is best known for creating the architecture that underpins most modern computers — so much so that to this day, scientists often refer to a computer as a “von Neumann machine.”
67. Bram Cohen – BitTorrentBitTorrent, the popular and incredibly useful file-sharing protocol, was invented by talented American programmer Bram Cohen, who is of Jewish descent.
68. Alon Cohen – Internet Telephony (VoIP)Israeli entrepreneur Alon Cohen taught the world to make phone calls over the Internet by developing the technology behind VoIP (Voice over IP).
69. Edward Teller – Hydrogen BombPhysicist Edward Teller is known as the “father of the American hydrogen bomb.” He also played a central role in the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the first atomic bomb.
70. Jerome Lemelson – VCR, Fax, and MoreIndependent inventor Jerome Lemelson held 605 patents. He invented the automated warehouse, industrial robots, a talking thermometer, cordless telephone, enhanced fax machine, and the cassette video recorder. His inventions were acquired by at least 700 companies worldwide.
71. Joseph Pulitzer – Journalism Principles, Pulitzer Prize, and the Statue of LibertyThe most prestigious journalism award in the U.S. — the Pulitzer Prize — is named after Joseph Pulitzer. Few people know, however, that the symbol of America, the Statue of Liberty, made it to Liberty Island thanks to Pulitzer’s efforts. It was he who rallied the public and raised the funds to transport the already rusting statue from Paris to America.
72. Gavriil Ilizarov – Bone-Lengthening MethodGavriil Ilizarov created a device that revolutionized orthopedic surgery and brought him worldwide recognition. The Ilizarov apparatus remains in use to this day for bone healing and lengthening.
73. Jacques Offenbach – OperettaJacques Offenbach was one of the founders of the most accessible genre in musical theatre — the operetta.
74–77. Phil Katz, Eugene Roshal, Abraham Lempel, and Jacob Ziv – Data Compression
- Phil Katz, a Jewish-American programmer, created one of the most popular compression tools — WinZIP
- Eugene Roshal, a Russian-Jewish developer, is the author of another iconic archiver — WinRAR.
- The popular free archiver 7-Zip, developed by Igor Pavlov, uses the LZMA algorithm, based on the work of Israeli-Jewish scientists Abraham Lempel and Jacob Ziv, creators of the LZ77 and LZ78 algorithms — the foundation of modern data compression.
78. Nicholas Kurti – Molecular GastronomyNicholas Kurti, a Hungarian-Jewish physicist, was not only known for his achievements in low-temperature physics but also for being one of the founders of molecular gastronomy. He was the first to propose applying scientific methods to culinary research and innovation.
79. J. Robert Oppenheimer – Atomic BombPhysicist J. Robert Oppenheimer led the development of the U.S. atomic bomb, earning him the title “Father of the Atomic Bomb.”
80. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann – HomeopathyChristian Hahnemann, who lived in the 18th century, was the founder of homeopathy, a branch of alternative medicine.
81. René Samuel Cassin – Universal Declaration of Human RightsLawyer René Cassin was one of the main authors of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Based on a list of rights drafted by Canadian law professor John Humphrey, Cassin prepared the first complete draft of the text, creating its structure and including the preamble and core principles.
82. Grigori Yakovlevich Perelman – Proof of the Poincaré ConjectureGrigori Perelman declined a $1 million prize for solving one of the Millennium Problems — the Poincaré Conjecture. He simply stated: "I have everything I want."
83. Otto Fritz Meyerhof – BiochemistryOtto Meyerhof confirmed the concept of the biochemical unity of life and became one of the founders of modern biochemistry.
84. Nathan Goldman – Shopping BasketIn 1936, Nathan Goldman, a supermarket owner in Oklahoma, patented the first shopping basket. He later invented the plastic shopping bag, milk bottle holder, and significantly simplified the modern shopping experience.
85. Robert Adler – Remote ControlRobert Adler developed the modern remote control using ultrasonic signals. He held over 50 patents and was awarded an Emmy Award for his technological contributions.
86. Akiba Horowitz – EnergizerAfter emigrating from Minsk to the U.S., Akiba Horowitz changed his name to Conrad Hubert and opened a novelty electronics shop that eventually became the famous Energizer company.
87. Joseph Friedman – Flexible StrawAlthough straws already existed in the 1930s, they were inconvenient. Joseph Friedman solved this by wrapping a straw around a screw to create a flexible segment — inventing the bendy straw. It took him 20 years to start mass production, but it eventually made him millions.
88. Isaac Merritt Singer – Sewing MachineBy the early 20th century, “Singer” (his surname and the name of his company) had become synonymous with the sewing machine. Indian philosopher and activist Mahatma Gandhi even called it "one of the few useful things ever invented by mankind."
89. Abraham Nemeth – Nemeth CodeBlind mathematician Abraham Nemeth invented the Nemeth Code — a tactile Braille-based system for writing mathematical and scientific notations. It's still used by visually impaired people worldwide.
90. Abram Neiman – Anti-Theft DevicesAbram Neiman invented the first anti-theft devices for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, as well as the ignition/steering wheel lock system.
91. Roland Moreno – Smart CardsRoland Moreno, a French businessman and engineer, is best known as the inventor of the smart card — an electronic memory card used in credit cards and SIM cards for mobile phones.
92. Dov Moran – USB Flash DriveIsraeli entrepreneur Dov Moran invented the USB flash drive, known to most of us simply as a “flash drive.”
93. Dennis Gabor – HolographyIn 1947, physicist Dennis Gabor invented holography. His discovery didn’t see commercial use until the invention of the laser — by another Jewish scientist — in 1960.
94. Theodore Maiman – LaserOn May 16, 1960, Theodore Maiman demonstrated the first working optical quantum generator — the laser. His invention was published the same year in the journal Nature.
95. Philippe Kahn – Instant Photo SharingTech innovator Philippe Kahn created the first solution for instant photo sharing on public networks. He also holds dozens of patents in the fields of smartphones, wireless communication, synchronization, and medical technologies.
96. Siegfried Marcus – The First AutomobileElectrician and mechanic Siegfried Marcus created one of the first self-propelled vehicles powered by a gasoline engine in 1864, making him a pioneer in automobile invention.
97. Arthur Eichengrün – AspirinChemist Arthur Eichengrün invented aspirin, nonflammable film, artificial silk, and over 40 other innovations.
98. Boris Petrovich Weinberg – Magnetic Levitation TrackGeophysicist, physicist, and glaciologist Boris Weinberg invented the magnetic levitation (maglev) track for transportation.
99. Simcha Blass – Drip IrrigationSimcha Blass, the initiator of most of Israel’s major water supply projects, invented drip irrigation, a revolutionary technique in agriculture still used worldwide.
100. László Bíró – Ballpoint Pen and Automatic TransmissionLászló Bíró made more than 20 inventions in his lifetime. His most famous are the ballpoint pen and the automatic transmission.
101Anatol Marco Josepho – Photo BoothJewish inventor Anatol Josepho, born in 1894 in Omsk, developed the world’s first photo booth in the early 1920s in New York.
102Amos Edward Joel Jr. – Mobile PhoneInventor Amos Joel was a pioneer of the cellular industry — an engineer who paved the way for nearly all modern mobile communication giants. He invented and developed what he called “handoff” technology, which allows a phone call to continue uninterrupted while moving between coverage areas.
103Leonard "Lenny" Lipton – 3D TechnologyLenny Lipton was a pioneer in the field of projected 3D images. His technology is used to show 3D films on more than 25,000 movie theater screens around the world. He held 68 patents related to stereography.
104Bernard Lown – DefibrillatorCardiologist Bernard Lown saved millions of lives with the invention of the defibrillator.
105Alfred Gross – Pager and Walkie-TalkieRadio engineer Alfred Gross was a pioneer in mobile wireless communication and one of the inventors of the walkie-talkie, pager, and cordless phone.
106Evelyn Berezin – Word ProcessorEvelyn Berezin was the creator of the first computerized word processor and one of the early developers of text editing systems.
107Ralph Henry Baer – Video GamesRalph Baer is known as the “father of video games.” In 1966, he created the "Brown Box" — the world’s first video game console system.
108Martin Cooper – Mobile PhoneOn April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper made the world’s first mobile phone call using the DynaTAC prototype. He famously called Joel Engel, head of research at Bell Labs (AT&T), to inform him he’d beaten them to it. The first mobile phone weighed about a kilogram and had a battery life of just 20 minutes.
109Arthur Korn – Fax MachinePhysicist and mathematician Arthur Korn developed the photoelectric scanning technology that laid the foundation for fax machines.
110Dean Kamen – SegwayEngineer, mechanic, and entrepreneur Dean Kamen invented the Segway — the self-balancing electric scooter powered by gyroscopic sensors.
111Bernhard Zondek – Pregnancy TestEndocrinologist and gynecologist Bernhard Zondek developed the pregnancy test in 1927.
112Bruno Touschek – Electron-Positron ColliderPhysicist Bruno Touschek created the world’s first electron-positron collider and was the author of many pioneering ideas in the field of accelerator physics.
113Philipp Reis – TelephonePhilipp Reis was the first (before Bell) to invent a telephone — a device capable of transmitting musical tones and human speech over wires. His device featured a uniquely designed microphone, a power source (galvanic battery), and a speaker. Reis called his invention the Telephone.
114Ida Rosenthal – BraWomen’s tailor Ida Rosenthal gave women of her time the modern bra: a two-cup design connected by a center elastic panel and worn with elastic shoulder straps — the same basic design we still use today.
115Julius Fromm – Rubber CondomsChemist Julius Fromm revolutionized his era by inventing a method to produce thin, seamless rubber condoms, replacing the uncomfortable skin-made versions used at the time.
116–117Leopold Godowsky and Leopold Mannes – Color PhotographyThe inventors of Kodachrome color film were two professional musicians and namesakes: Leopold Mannes (piano) and Leopold Godowsky (violin). Photochemistry was just a hobby — but it brought them far more fame than music.
118–119Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver – BarcodeThe invention of the barcode by Norman Woodland and Bernard Silver was inspired by Morse code.
120Bernard Zunz – InsulinBernard Zunz was one of the researchers who contributed to the discovery of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. This discovery became a turning point in the treatment of diabetes and has saved millions of lives worldwide.
121Ernst Boris Chain – PenicillinJewish scientist of German origin Ernst Boris Chain played a crucial role in the development and industrial application of penicillin, the first effective antibiotic. His work marked the beginning of the antibiotic era and earned him a Nobel Prize.
122Rosalind Franklin – DNA StructureBiophysicist of Jewish descent Rosalind Franklin made a decisive contribution to the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. Her X-ray diffraction images were the key to unlocking the structure of the molecule of life.
123Arno Penzias – Cosmic Microwave BackgroundPhysicist Arno Penzias was one of the two scientists who discovered the cosmic microwave background — the residual radiation from the Big Bang. This became strong evidence supporting the theory of an expanding universe.
124Eugene Wigner – Semiconductor TransistorNobel laureate Eugene Wigner made significant contributions to the theoretical foundations of solid-state physics, which led to the development of the semiconductor transistor — the cornerstone of modern electronics.
125Richard Feynman – Quantum ElectrodynamicsOne of the creators of quantum electrodynamics, the theory that describes the interaction of light and matter. Physicist Richard Feynman received a Nobel Prize for his work and became an iconic figure in modern science.
126Jacob Bekenstein – Black Hole RadiationIsraeli physicist Jacob Bekenstein proposed the revolutionary idea that black holes have entropy and radiation. His theory laid the foundation for further discoveries in quantum gravity and black hole thermodynamics.
127Lev Landau – Quantum Physics and SuperfluidityA brilliant Soviet physicist of Jewish origin, Lev Landau made fundamental contributions to quantum mechanics and the theory of superfluidity. His work shaped modern understanding of matter at extremely low temperatures. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
128Dan Shechtman – QuasicrystalsIsraeli scientist Dan Shechtman shocked the scientific community with his discovery of quasicrystals — unique structures that defied traditional crystallographic rules. Initially rejected, his breakthrough later earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
129Nathan Rosen – Stealth TechnologyPhysicist Nathan Rosen, co-author of the famous EPR paradox (Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen), is also considered one of the theoretical pioneers behind stealth technology, which became the foundation for low-visibility aircraft and other military innovations.
130Paul Otlet – World Wide Web Concept Before the InternetLong before the internet existed, Paul Otlet envisioned a global information network connecting all of humanity’s knowledge. His work, Universal Bibliography, became a conceptual forerunner to the World Wide Web.
131Judea Pearl – Artificial Intelligence AlgorithmsIsraeli-American scientist Judea Pearl is considered one of the founding fathers of modern artificial intelligence. His work in causal reasoning and probabilistic algorithms laid the foundation for machine learning as we know it today.
132–134Hilary Koprowski, Jonas Salk, Albert Sabin – Polio VaccineThree Jewish scientists — Hilary Koprowski, Jonas Salk, and Albert Sabin — independently developed vaccines against polio. Their groundbreaking work brought an end to one of the most terrifying viruses of the 20th century, saving the health of millions of children around the world.
135David Sarnoff – Television and Radio BroadcastingBorn in the Russian Empire, David Sarnoff became one of the founding figures of American television and radio. Under his leadership, RCA launched the world’s first television network, and his vision turned radio and TV into the dominant mass media of the 20th century.
136Peter Goldmark – Color TelevisionHungarian-Jewish engineer Peter Carl Goldmark invented the first color television system implemented in the United States. He also contributed to the development of stereo sound and video recording, leaving a significant mark on the media industry.
137Ralph Barer – Cable TelevisionAmerican engineer Ralph Barer, of Jewish descent, was one of the pioneers of cable television. His innovations made it possible to deliver TV signals to remote areas and laid the groundwork for multi-channel broadcasting.
138Marc Randolph – NetflixMarc Randolph is the co-founder of Netflix, the platform that revolutionized how we consume movies and TV shows. He helped lead the shift from physical rentals to global digital streaming.
139Stan Lee, Jack Kirby – Marvel and DC ComicsLegendary Jewish artists and storytellers Stan Lee and Jack Kirby became the architects of the modern comic book universe. They created iconic heroes — from Spider-Man to the X-Men — and turned comics into a powerful form of pop culture that shaped cinema, art, and society.
140Ludwik Zamenhof – EsperantoLudwik Zamenhof, known by the pseudonym “Dr. Esperanto,” created Esperanto, the most successful constructed international language.
141Daniel Kahneman, Richard Thaler – Behavioral EconomicsDaniel Kahneman and Richard Thaler laid the foundations of behavioral economics — a field at the intersection of psychology and finance. Their research proved that human behavior in economic decision-making is often irrational, and for their contributions both received Nobel Prizes.
142Jim Simons – Algorithmic TradingMathematician and financier of Jewish descent Jim Simons is considered the father of algorithmic trading. He founded Renaissance Technologies and proved that mathematical models can outperform even the most intuitive human traders.
143Robert Merton – Black-Scholes FormulaRobert Merton helped refine and apply the famous Black–Scholes formula for option pricing. His contributions to financial engineering earned him the Nobel Prize in Economics.
144Paul Samuelson – Modern Economic TheoryPaul Samuelson was the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he formalized economic theory and turned it into a rigorous, mathematically based science, training generations of economists around the world.
145Leonid Kantorovich – Linear ProgrammingSoviet mathematician and economist Leonid Kantorovich developed the method of linear programming, a resource optimization technique now used in everything from logistics to finance. He became the first Soviet citizen to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics.
146Gabriel Lippmann – Color Photography MethodGabriel Lippmann developed the first physical method for producing color photographs using light interference. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1908 for this groundbreaking discovery.
147Albert Rose – Modern Solar PanelsAmerican engineer of Jewish descent Albert Rose made key contributions to photovoltaics — the technology behind today’s solar panels. His work helped improve the efficiency of converting light into electricity.
148Emanuel Goldberg – Early Compact CamerasGerman-Jewish engineer and inventor Emanuel Goldberg created one of the world’s first portable cameras. His designs paved the way for modern photography and the popularization of personal cameras.
149Wolfgang Pauli – Quantum MechanicsAustrian physicist of Jewish origin Wolfgang Pauli was one of the fathers of fractal geometry, a new branch of mathematics used to describe complex natural forms. His ideas helped develop chaos theory and found applications in fields ranging from medicine to computer graphics.
150Benoît Mandelbrot – Fractal Geometry and Chaos TheoryBenoît Mandelbrot founded fractal geometry, a new branch of mathematics used to describe complex natural forms. His ideas helped develop chaos theory and found applications in fields ranging from medicine to computer graphics.
151Eva Klein – Discovery of Natural Killer CellsHungarian-Swedish biologist Eva Klein is regarded as a pioneer of cancer immunology. In the 1960s, she led research that led to the discovery of natural killer (NK) cells — lymphocytes that can destroy tumor and virus-infected cells. Her work significantly advanced the understanding of immune defense mechanisms against cancer.
152Stefania Horovitz – Proof of IsotopesPolish chemist Stefania Horovitz is known for her experimental work confirming the existence of isotopes. Between 1914 and 1918, she collaborated with Otto Hönigschmid at the Radium Institute in Vienna, analyzing lead and thorium to prove they contained isotopes — a key contribution to nuclear chemistry.
153Rita Levi-Montalcini – Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)Italian neurobiologist of Jewish origin Rita Levi-Montalcini discovered the nerve growth factor (NGF), a breakthrough that earned her the Nobel Prize. Her research played a vital role in understanding the development and regeneration of the nervous system.
154Otto Loewi – Chemical Transmission of Nerve ImpulsesAustrian-Jewish physiologist Otto Loewi was the first to prove that nerve impulses are transmitted chemically, via neurotransmitters. His frog heart experiment became a cornerstone of neurophysiology and earned him the Nobel Prize.