Wolf V. Vishniac | |
|---|---|
| Born | Wolf Vladimir Vishniac April 22, 1922 Berlin, Germany |
| Died | December 10, 1973 (aged 51) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Helen Vishniac |
| Children | Ethan Vishniac |
| Father | Roman Vishniac |
| Relatives | Ilene Busch-Vishniac (daughter-in-law) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Microbiology Astrobiology |
| Institutions | University of Rochester |
Wolf Vladimir Vishniac (April 22, 1922 – December 10, 1973) was an American microbiologist. He was the son of photographer Roman Vishniac and the father of astronomer Ethan Vishniac. Educated at Brooklyn College and Stanford University, he was a professor of biology at the University of Rochester. He died on a research trip to the Antarctic attempting to retrieve equipment in a crevasse. The crater Vishniac on Mars is named in his honor.[1]
Wolf Vishniac contributed greatly to the search for life on Mars by developing a special miniature laboratory that could be transported to that planet, known as the "Wolf Trap". This research was supported by a NASA grant started in 1959, the first for the biological sciences.[2]