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Philip Abelson was born in 1913. As a young physicist, he collaborated with Nobel Prize winner Luis Alvarez in early nuclear research, and was the co-discoverer of the element Neptunium. He was a key contributor to the Manhattan Project during World War II. Although not formally associated with the atom bomb project, his invention of the Liquid Thermal Diffusion isotope separation technique proved a critical step in creating sufficient fuel for the weapon.

After the war, he turned his attention to applying nuclear power to naval propulsion. He wrote the first report detailing how a nuclear reactor could be installed in a submarine, providing both propulsion and electrical power. His report anticipated the nuclear submarine's role as a missile platform. His design was adopted as the basis for the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine. Dr. Abelson is known as the "Father of the Nuclear Submarine".

From 1951 until 1971 he served as the director of the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory. From 1962 to 1984 he was editor of Science magazine, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and served as its acting Executive Officer in 19741974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). Events January-February January 5 Dungeons & Dragons officially released. February 4 Patricia Hearst, the 19 year old granddaughter of publisher William Randolph Hearst, is kidnapped, 1975Events January January 1 Watergate scandal: John N. Mitchell, H. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman are found guilty of the Watergate cover-up and are sentenced to 30 months to 8 years in jail on February 21 January 5 The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, i and 1984.

After 1984, he remained associated with the magazine. Some have claimed him to be an early skeptic of the case for global warmingGlobal warming is an increase over time of the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Global warming theories attempt to account for the documented rise in average global temperatures since the late 19th century and assess the extent to whi on the basis of a lead editorial in the magazine dated March 31, 1990. He wrote "[I]f the global warmingGlobal warming is an increase over time of the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Global warming theories attempt to account for the documented rise in average global temperatures since the late 19th century and assess the extent to whi situation is analyzed applying the customary standards of scientific inquiry one must conclude that there has been more hype than solid fact.". However, one editorial does not a skeptic make: in 1977 in the foreword for a US National Research Council, Energy and Environment report he wrote: What should the atmospheric carbon dioxide content be over the next century or two to achieve an optimum global climate?[1], implying a level of connection between CO2 and climate that would put him outside todays skeptic camp.

Dr. Abelson received many distinguished awards, including The President's National Medal of ScienceThe National Medal of Science of the United States was established in 1959 by Congress and administered by the National Science Foundation. According to the NSF, the medal honors individuals who have significantly advanced knowledge in the fields of behav, the National Science Foundation's Distinguished Achievement Award, the American Medical Association's Science Achievement Award, and the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.

Dr. Abelson's wife Neva Abelson ( 1910Events January events January 13 The first live musical radio program. Lee De Forest broadcasts a live performance of Enrico Caruso from the Metropolitan Opera. January 26 ? Seine floods in Paris. February events February 8 The Boy Scouts of America is in- 2000) was a distinguished research physician who played a key role in developing the life-saving Rh blood factor test. Their daughter, Dr. Ellen Abelson Cherniavsky, is an aviation researcher at The MITRE Corporation in Virginia.

Dr. Abelson passed away on August 1, 2004 from respiratory complications following a brief illness.