Steven Weinberg
Physicist
Theoretical physicist and Nobel Laureate in Physics. In 1991, he received The National Medal of Science. During his long and illustrious career, he won numerous awards for his work on physical cosmology and elementary particles. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Britain's Royal Society.
At the age of 16, he became interested in science after someone gifted him a chemistry set. He went on to study at Bronx High School of Science. He received his B.A. from Cornell University and his PhD from Princeton University.
He did postdoctoral research at Columbia University.
His father, Frederick, was a court stenographer. His mother, Eva, was a housewife. They were both Jewish immigrants. In 1954, he married Louise Weinberg, who eventually became a law professor. They had one daughter, Elizabeth.
Stephen Hawking and Brian Greene are two other well-known physicists who have tackled physical cosmology.