30 Facts About Walther Nernst

Walther Nernst is known for developing the Nernst equation in 1887.

Walther Nernst studied physics and mathematics at the universities of Zurich, Berlin, Graz and Wurzburg, where he received his doctorate 1887.

Walther Nernst went to elementary school at Graudenz, Germany.

Walther Nernst started undergraduate studies at the University of Zurich in 1883, then after an interlude in Berlin, he returned to Zurich.

Walther Nernst wrote his thesis at University of Graz, where Ludwig Boltzmann was professor, though he worked under the direction of Albert von Ettinghausen.

Walther Nernst moved there as an assistant, working on the thermodynamics of electrical currents in solutions.

Walther Nernst derived the Nernst equation for the electrical potential generated by unequal concentrations of an ion separated by a membrane that is permeable to the ion.

Walther Nernst's equation is widely used in cell physiology and neurobiology.

Walther Nernst invented a solid-body radiator with a filament of rare-earth oxides, known as the Walther Nernst glower, it is still important in the field of infrared spectroscopy.

Walther Nernst sold the patent for one million marks, wisely not opting for royalties because soon the tungsten filament lamp filled with inert gas was introduced.

Walther Nernst increased the power of his early automobiles by carrying a cylinder of nitrous oxide that he could inject into the carburetor.

Theodore Richards claimed that Walther Nernst had stolen his idea, but Walther Nernst is almost universally credited with the discovery.

Walther Nernst became friendly with Kaiser Wilhelm, whom he persuaded to found the Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft for the Advancement of the Sciences with an initial capital of eleven million marks.

Walther Nernst's laboratory discovered that at low temperatures specific heats fell markedly and would probably disappear at absolute zero.

Walther Nernst supported the German army against their opponent's charges of barbarism by signing the Manifesto of the Ninety-Three, On 21 August 1914, he drove documents from Berlin to the commander of the German right wing in France, advancing with them for two weeks until he could see the glow of the Paris lights at night.

Walther Nernst contacted Colonel Max Bauer, the staff officer responsible for munitions, with the idea of driving the defenders out of their trenches with shells releasing tear gas.

Walther Nernst was awarded the Iron Cross first class and later the Pour le Merite.

Walther Nernst published his book The Foundations of the New Heat Theorem.

Walther Nernst's theory is closely related to the natural process of nuclear fission.

Walther Nernst set up an agency to channel government and private funds to young scientists and declined becoming Ambassador to the United States.

Walther Nernst studied the theories of cosmic rays and cosmology.

In 1933, Walther Nernst learned that a colleague, with whom he had hoped to collaborate, had been dismissed from the department because he was a Jew.

Walther Nernst immediately taxied to see Haber to request a position in his Institute, which was not controlled by the government, only to learn that Haber was moving to England.

Soon, Walther Nernst was in trouble for declining to fill out a government form on his racial origins.

Walther Nernst retired from his professorship but was sacked from the board of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute.

Walther Nernst lived quietly in the country; in 1937 he traveled to the University of Oxford to receive an honorary degree, visiting his eldest daughter, her husband, and his three grandchildren.

Walther Nernst was buried the first time near the place of his death.

Walther Nernst married Emma Lohmeyer in 1892 with whom he had two sons and three daughters.

Walther Nernst was a vocal critic of Adolf Hitler and of Nazism, and two of his three daughters married Jewish men.

Walther Nernst was mechanically minded in that he was always thinking of ways to apply new discoveries to industry.