John Alexander Simpson

Who was John Alexander Simpson?

John Alexander Simpson worked as an experimental nuclear, and cosmic ray physicist who was deeply committed to educating the public and political leaders about science and its implications. The year he died, his instruments in space had been sending data back for nearly 40 years. Simpson spent his career as an instructor and researcher for the University of Chicago Physics department. His research continued up until a few weeks prior to his death on August 31 of 2000.

He is known for inventions such as the gas flow a-particle proportional counter for measuring plutonium yields in the presence of high intensity fission products, and the neutron monitor. And also for having several of the instruments he created launched into space.

John A. Simpson died at age 83. His death was caused from a case of Pneumonia in which he contracted in the hospital following a successful heart surgery, and he is survived by his wife Elizabeth, and by his two children Mary Ann and Simpson from his first marriage.