Burton Richter

The reason why Three Mile Island makes such a big impact is because of a Jane Fonda movie called 'The China Syndrome.'

Modern science is fast-moving, and no laboratory can exist for long with a program based on old facilities. Innovation and renewal are required to keep a laboratory on the frontiers of science.

While a lab director can get done the things that he regards as important, he has the more important job of bringing out the best ideas of the broader scientific community. I learned this early in my career while I was leading the construction of the SPEAR facility.

The sun doesn't shine at night, and wind power is highly variable. To meet our emissions goals, we're going to have to grasp every arrow in the quiver, and nuclear is one of those arrows.

I got no thrill from solving an integral equation, but I did get a thrill from building an exotic piece of equipment that worked.

Iran wants to join the group of countries that want to know about the biggest things, like space.

I was born on 22 March 1931 in New York, the elder child of Abraham and Fanny Richter.

So now, if we don't fund the physical sciences, where will the Next Big Thing come from?

Is the sky falling? No. It's maybe drooping a bit.

While a lab Director can get done the things that he regards as important, he has the more important job of bringing out the best ideas of the broader scientific community.

In 1960, I married Laurose Becker. We have two children: Elizabeth, born in 1961, and Matthew, born in 1963.

I've become interested in the impact of climate change on the world and the future of energy needs for the developing world.