Brian Greene is a world-renowned theoretical physicist and professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University, where he also directs the Center for Theoretical Physics. Born on February 9, 1963, in New York City, he demonstrated exceptional mathematical talent from an early age, studying under Columbia University graduate students when his high school curriculum could no longer challenge him. He earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard University in 1984 before completing his doctorate at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. His academic journey included From 1987 to 1990, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the Departments of Mathematics and Physics at Harvard University and professorial positions at Cornell University, where he began his pioneering work in string theory that would establish his reputation as a leading theoretical physicist.
Greene is celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to superstring theory, most notably the co-discovery of mirror symmetry with Ronen Plesser and the demonstration of spatial topology change with Paul Aspinwall and David Morrison. His revolutionary work showed that the spatial fabric of the universe can theoretically tear and repair itself, challenging established notions from general relativity and opening new pathways for understanding quantum gravity. His mathematical insights into the Calabi-Yau shapes that may constitute the extra dimensions of string theory fundamentally advanced the field and provided critical conceptual frameworks for subsequent research. These theoretical breakthroughs, though still awaiting experimental verification, have reshaped how physicists approach the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity.
Beyond his technical contributions, Greene has transformed public engagement with theoretical physics through his award-winning books including The Elegant Universe, The Fabric of the Cosmos, and The Hidden Reality, which have collectively sold more than two million copies and spent 65 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The Washington Post has recognized him as the single best explainer of abstruse concepts in the world today, a reputation cemented by his hosting of Peabody and Emmy Award-winning NOVA miniseries and numerous media appearances from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to The Big Bang Theory. As co-founder of the World Science Festival with producer Tracy Day, he has established a major platform for public science engagement that the New York Times heralded as a new cultural institution, while continuing to explore profound questions about the nature of reality in his ongoing research and writing.
