CCD co-inventor George E. Smith dies at 95

152 NaOH 17 5/31/2025, 7:56:37 PM nytimes.com ↗

Comments (17)

NaOH · 1d ago
Williard Boyle was the other co-inventor. His passing in 2011 was linked here but did not elicit any discussion.

Nobel Prize winner Willard Boyle, inventor of CCD, dies. - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2566440 - May 2011

nullhole · 1d ago
Some years ago I tried to get a crater on the Moon (or alternatively Mars) named after Willard Boyle. His (and Smith's) contribution to the practice of astronomy should be unquestionable.

The naming wasn't possible at the time because there is already a crater on the Moon named Boyle (after the British natural philosopher and chemist Robert Boyle, 1627-1691), and duplicate names aren't allowed. Use of the first name ('Willard') wasn't suggested at the time.

It may be time to re-submit the request, but for the name "Boyle-Smith", if combined names are allowed.

[0] https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Categories "The Moon : Craters: Scientists, engineers, and explorers, as well as other persons connected with astronomy, planetary, or space research who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field. ... First names are used for small craters of special interest. "

thelittleone · 1d ago
Wow... name collision avoidance is applied across the solar system.

Respect for taking the time to apply for his recognition.

closewith · 23h ago
The British natural philosopher and chemist?
neonate · 1d ago
Findecanor · 1d ago
I had attended his 1999 Nobel Prize Lecture on the invention of the CCD. The video is available.

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2009/smith/lecture...

neonate · 1d ago
He was 79 when the photo in the article was taken? That's incredible.
selcuka · 1d ago
He probably didn't, but he could have fine-tuned the CCD sensor of the camera.
kazinator · 21h ago
Or clocked it down so that what's being shifted out is actually a sample from when he was 49.
formerly_proven · 18h ago
Funnily enough the camera that he's holding has a CMOS sensor.
Luc · 18h ago
Nah it's an EOS-1D, it has a CCD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EOS-1D

formerly_proven · 17h ago
Says Mark II near his fingers.
rvnx · 1d ago
Great looking for sure, probably genetics.
brcmthrowaway · 21h ago
Or using red light therapy
hobs · 18h ago
My dad is almost that old and looks younger and healthier than him for sure, it all depends on how you live your life and the genetics you are granted.
toomuchtodo · 1d ago
dang · 1d ago