Guglielmo Marconi
Nobel Prize in Physics 1909

Born:25 April 1874, Bologna, Italy

Died:20 July 1937, Rome, Italy

Affiliation at the time of the award: Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd., London, United Kingdom

Prize motivation: “in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy”

Prize share: 1/2

Work

In the late 1880s a previously unknown type of radiation was discovered—radio waves. It was found to have the same nature as light, but with a greater wavelength. Various physicists and technicians investigated whether radio waves could be used to transmit signals. In 1895, Guglielmo Marconi used radio waves to transmit signals over a distance of several kilometers. He developed the technology in subsequent years to achieve greater range. The foundation for both wireless telegraphy and radio had been laid.