Paul Halpern introduces the contrasting early lives of George Gamow and Fred Hoyle. Born in Odessa, Gamow studied under Alexander Friedmann, whose work on expanding universe models influenced Gamow's shift toward nuclear physic

Paul Halpern introduces the contrasting early lives of George Gamow and Fred Hoyle. Born in Odessa, Gamowstudied under Alexander Friedmann, whose work on expanding universe models influenced Gamow's shift toward nuclear physics and quantum tunneling. After a dramatic attempted escape from the Soviet Union via a rubber kayak and later a successful departure through a scientific conference, Gamow reached the West. Meanwhile, in Yorkshire, Hoylewas shaped by his mother's cinema music, learning to read through silent film subtitles before pursuing physics at Cambridge. (1)

JANUARY 1950