Wu’s big accomplishment
In 1957, two researchers Tsung Dao Lee and Shen Yin Yang came to Wu for help with their project. Lee and Yang wanted to show that a rule of physics called the Law of Parity did not always work. They had good reasons to believe that they were right but they couldn’t prove it.Wu was very doubtful that she would be able to prove it, but she tried anyway. After many tries, Wu’s experiment finally worked! It was very big news for them when they showed that the The Law of Parity did not always work.Lee and Yang got the 1957 Nobel prize in physics. Wu’s discovery brought her worldwide fame.
Wu’s childhood and life
The all girl school Wu went to did not teach the science and math classes Wu wanted. Instead, Wu started to teach herself! In 1930, she graduated at the top of her class. She was invited to attend China’s National Central University. Wu majored in physics and then graduated at the University in 1936. Chien wanted to continue physics but there wasn’t anywhere for her to go in China, so she moved to the United States. She attended the University of California at Berkeley. She earned the highest degree and became the expert of nuclear fission.Wu married Luke Yaun and they moved to th East Coast of the US Wu taught at Princeton and she was the first female professor Princeton had ever had.
Fun Facts
She earned many nicknames for her accomplishment She was called,“Chinese Madame Curie,” First “Lady of Physics,” and more.
She worked with many famous scientists like Ernest Lawrence and Robert Oppenheimer.
She was the first woman to be elected president American Physical Society and to receive the Cyrus B.
Chien Shiung Wu