An astrophysicist and cosmologist, George F. Smoot conducted seminal research on the origin of the universe, including hard data to support the big bang theory of the universe's origin. Born in Yukon, Florida, Smoot gained an early respect for learning, particularly in math and science, from his father, a hydrologist, and his mother, a science teacher. As a youth, he enjoyed reading science fiction and science books.

Although initially interested in medicine when he enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Smoot soon turned his attention to mathematics and physics. He received both his B.S. (1966) and Ph.D. (1970) from MIT, with a focus on particle physics. After graduation, Smoot turned his attention to cosmology, reasoning that it was a less crowded field where he could make a greater impact while still studying subatomic particles as important factors in the universe's origin. In 1970, Smoot joined the University...