Zernike, Frits (1888-1966), a Dutch physicist, made important discoveries in optics, the branch of physics concerned with light and vision. He developed the phase-contrast microscope, which later proved useful for cancer research. Zernike was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1953 for his work.
In the 1930’s, he invented the phase-contrast microscope, but it’s importance was not recognized until the 1940’s. This instrument makes it possible to study colorless, transparent objects, such as living tissues that would be invisible under an ordinary microscope unless they were stained.
Zernike was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He studied physics at the University of Amsterdam, receiving a Ph.D. in 1915. In 1920, he became a professor at the University of Groningen.
