Origins & Early Life

Andrea Mia Ghez (born June 16, 1965) is an American astrophysicist. She shared the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics with Reinhard Genzel "for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy". This object is generally recognized to be a black hole. Her research focuses on the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine chair in Astrophysics, at the University of California, Los Angeles. With Judith Love Cohen, she is the author of the book You Can Be a Woman Astronomer. Ghez was born in New York City.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She is the daughter of Susanne (née Gayton) and Gilbert Ghez. Her father, of Jewish heritage, was born in Rome, Italy, to a family originally from Tunisia and Frankfurt, Germany. Her mother was from an Irish Catholic family from North Attleborough, Massachusetts. In 1969, her father completed his Ph.D. at Columbia University and accepted a position at the University of Chicago, where as the child of a faculty member Ghez was able to attend the Laboratory School. The Apollo program Moon landings inspired Ghez to aspire to be the first female astronaut,...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aamir Khan — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker, known for his dedication to cinematic perfection.
• Albert Schweitzer — Contemporary (Died in 1965) (1965): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr. — Contemporary (Died in 1965) (1965): Pioneering American historian known for social and urban history.
• Alice Bailey — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (1880): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• BabyTron — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (2000): American rapper known for his distinctive style and rise in the Detroit hip hop scene.
• Bashar al-Assad — Historical peer (Born in 1965) (1965): Former President of Syria, known for his authoritarian rule and role in the Syrian Civil War.
• Ben Stiller — Historical peer (Born in 1965) (1965): Versatile American actor, comedian, and filmmaker known for sharp wit and slapstick humor.
• Alan Parker — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.
• Adam Gilchrist — Historical peer (Born in 1969) (1969): Legendary Australian cricketer, redefining the wicket-keeper-batsman role with aggressive flair.
• 1965 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1965
• June 16 (06-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 16