Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén made a number of important discoveries in the fields of plasma physics, space physics, and astrophysics, and is considered the founder of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), a field of study whose applications are as diverse as the properties of stars and the production of fusion power by artificial means. In 1970, he was awarded the Nobel Prize with Louis Néel in physics for his achievements in MHD and their practical uses in plasma physics. MHD deals with the behavior of electrically conducting gases and liquids as they interact with magnetic fields. The first space scientist to receive the Nobel, Alfvén's discoveries grew out of his research in sunspots.

Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén was born in Norrköping, Sweden, May 30, 1908. His parents, Johannes Alfvén and Anna-Clara (Romanus) Alfvén, were both physicians...