Maria Goeppert Mayer

German-born American theoretical physicist (1906-1972)
Person human Q57100
Maria Goeppert Mayer
Nobel foundation · Public Domain · Wikimedia
Press Enter · cited answer in seconds

Maria Goeppert Mayer was a physicist, nuclear physicist, university teacher, and scientist[1][2] born on June 28, 1906, in Katowice[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and died on February 20, 1972, in San Diego[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] from circulatory collapse[1]; she was buried in San Diego. She held citizenship in both Germany and the United States[1]. Her father was Friedrich Göppert[1], and she married Joseph Edward Mayer in 1930[1][12]. She received her education at the University of Göttingen[1] and was influenced by Max Born and James Franck[1].

Her professional work focused on physics, nuclear physics, radioactivity, and quantum mechanics[1][2]. She was employed by Johns Hopkins University from 1930 to 1939, the University of California, San Diego from 1960 to 1972, Columbia University, and Sarah Lawrence College from 1941 to 1942[13]. Her notable work includes the nuclear shell model[13]. She was a member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the American Physical Society[14][15].

She received several awards, including the Nobel Prize in Physics, the National Women's Hall of Fame, Fellow of the American Physical Society, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Golden Plate Award[16][17][18][19].

Maria Goeppert Mayer

Summary

Maria Goeppert Mayer is a human[1]. She was born in Katowice[2]. She was born on June 28, 1906[3]. She died in San Diego[4]. She died on February 20, 1972[5]. She worked as a physicist[6], nuclear physicist[7], university teacher[8], and scientist[9]. She ranks in the top 0.71% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (779 views/month, #7,096 of 1,000,298).[10]

Key Facts

  • Born in Katowice[2], Maria Goeppert Mayer…
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer passed away in San Diego[4].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer was born on June 28, 1906[3].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer was born on January 1, 1906[11].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer died on February 20, 1972[5].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer died on January 1, 1972[12].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer is buried at San Diego[13].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer is buried at El Camino Memorial Park[14].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's father was Friedrich Göppert[15].
  • Among Maria Goeppert Mayer's spouses was Joseph Edward Mayer[16].
  • A child of Maria Goeppert Mayer was Maria Mayer[17].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer held citizenship in Germany[18].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer held citizenship in United States[19].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer worked as a physicist[6].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer worked as a nuclear physicist[7].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer worked as a university teacher[8].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's professions included scientist[9].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's field of work was physics[20].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's field of work was nuclear physics[21].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's field of work was radioactivity[22].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's field of work was quantum mechanics[23].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's field of work was theoretical physics[24].
  • Maria Goeppert Mayer's field of work was physical chemistry[25].
  • Among Maria Goeppert Mayer's employers was Johns Hopkins University[26].
  • Among Maria Goeppert Mayer's employers was University of California, San Diego[27].

Product Details

The following facts are restated verbatim from public-domain and CC0 open-data sources — every line is independently verifiable against the named source's catalog.

MusicBrainz — CC0 open music encyclopedia

  • Type: Person[28]

  • Country: US[29]

  • Began / founded: 1906-06-28[30]

  • Ended / dissolved: 1972-02-20[31]

  • MusicBrainz ID: 17b0a521-f5e8-449f-9cfb-8ad401c6b838[32]

Body

Origins and Family

Maria Goeppert Mayer's place of birth was Katowice[2]. Recorded date of birth include June 28, 1906[3] and January 1, 1906[11]. Her father was Friedrich Göppert[15].

Education

Maria Goeppert Mayer's education included a stint at University of Göttingen[33]. Her doctoral advisor was Max Born[34].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include physicist[6], nuclear physicist[7], university teacher[8], and scientist[9]. Fields of work include physics[20], a branch of science[35]; nuclear physics[21], a branch of physics[36]; radioactivity[22]; quantum mechanics[23], a physical theory[37]; theoretical physics[24], a branch of physics[38]; and physical chemistry[25], a branch of chemistry[39]. Employers include Johns Hopkins University[26], a private university[40], in United States[41], founded in 1876[42], headquartered in Baltimore[43]; University of California, San Diego[27], a public university[44], in United States[45], founded in 1960[46]; Columbia University[47], a private university[48], in United States[49], founded in 1754[50], headquartered in Manhattan[51]; Sarah Lawrence College[52], a liberal arts college in the United States[53], in United States[54], founded in 1926[55]; Los Alamos National Laboratory[56], an United States national laboratory[57], in United States[58], founded in 1943[59], headquartered in Los Alamos[60]; and Argonne National Laboratory[61], a laboratory[62], in United States[63], founded in 1946[64], headquartered in Lemont[65]. Doctoral students include Robert G. Sachs[66] and Steven Moszkowski[67].

Works and Contributions

A notable work attributed to Maria Goeppert Mayer is nuclear shell model[68]. Things named for her include Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award[69], a science award[70], in United States[71], founded in 1986[72] and Goeppert-Mayer[73], an impact crater[74].

Recognition

Awards received include Nobel Prize in Physics[75], a physics award[76], in Sweden[77], founded in 1901[78]; National Women's Hall of Fame[79]; Fellow of the American Physical Society[80]; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[81]; and Golden Plate Award[82].

Personal Life

Among Maria Goeppert Mayer's spouses was Joseph Edward Mayer[16]. A child of her was Maria Mayer[17].

Death and Burial

Recorded date of death include February 20, 1972[5] and January 1, 1972[12]. Maria Goeppert Mayer died in San Diego[4]. The cause of death was circulatory collapse[83]. Recorded place of burial include San Diego[13] and El Camino Memorial Park[14].

Why It Matters

Maria Goeppert Mayer ranks in the top 0.71% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (779 views/month, #7,096 of 1,000,298).[10] She has Wikipedia articles in 29 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[84] She is known by 53 alternative names across languages and contexts.[85]

Entities named for her include Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award[69], a science award[70], in United States[71], founded in 1986[72] and Goeppert-Mayer[73], an impact crater[74].

Her notable doctoral advisees include Robert G. Sachs[86], a physicist[87], 1916–1999[88], of United States[89], awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship[90].

FAQs

Where was Maria Goeppert Mayer born?

Maria Goeppert Mayer's place of birth was Katowice[2].

Where did Maria Goeppert Mayer die?

Maria Goeppert Mayer died in San Diego[4].

Who were Maria Goeppert Mayer's parents?

Maria Goeppert Mayer's father was Friedrich Göppert[15].

Who was Maria Goeppert Mayer married to?

Maria Goeppert Mayer's spouses include Joseph Edward Mayer[16].

What did Maria Goeppert Mayer do for work?

Maria Goeppert Mayer worked as physicist[6], nuclear physicist[7], university teacher[8], and scientist[9].

Where did Maria Goeppert Mayer go to school?

Maria Goeppert Mayer was educated at University of Göttingen[33].

What awards did Maria Goeppert Mayer receive?

Honors received include Nobel Prize in Physics[75], National Women's Hall of Fame[79], Fellow of the American Physical Society[80], and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[81].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978). Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . wikidata.org.
  3. [15] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. wikidata.org.
  4. [16] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. Retrieved . nasonline.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  5. [18] . wikidata.org.
  6. [19] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. wikidata.org.
  7. [17] . wikidata.org.
  8. [33] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. wikidata.org.
  9. [20] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. wikidata.org.
  10. [21] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [22] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [23] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  13. [24] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [25] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  15. [6] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. wikidata.org.
  16. [7] . wikidata.org.
  17. [8] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. wikidata.org.
  18. [9] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  19. [26] . history.aip.org. Retrieved . history.aip.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  20. [27] . history.aip.org. Retrieved . history.aip.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  21. [47] . history.aip.org. Retrieved . history.aip.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  22. [52] . history.aip.org. Retrieved . history.aip.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  23. [56] . history.aip.org. Retrieved . history.aip.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [61] . history.aip.org. Retrieved . history.aip.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  25. [13] . wikidata.org.
  26. [14] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  27. [75] . nobelprize.org. Retrieved . nobelprize.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  28. [79] . womenofthehall.org. womenofthehall.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  29. [80] . wikidata.org.
  30. [81] . wikidata.org.
  31. [82] . achievement.org. achievement.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  32. [34] . wikidata.org.
  33. [66] . wikidata.org.
  34. [67] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  35. [83] . The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. wikidata.org.
  36. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  37. [11] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  38. [5] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  39. [12] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  40. [68] . history.aip.org. Retrieved . history.aip.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.

Product details (FDA / USDA / NHTSA public-domain catalog data)

  1. [28] . MusicBrainz (MetaBrainz Foundation). musicbrainz.org.
  2. [29] . MusicBrainz (MetaBrainz Foundation). musicbrainz.org.
  3. [30] . MusicBrainz (MetaBrainz Foundation). musicbrainz.org.
  4. [31] . MusicBrainz (MetaBrainz Foundation). musicbrainz.org.
  5. [32] . MusicBrainz (MetaBrainz Foundation). musicbrainz.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [86] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [69] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [73] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [63] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [77] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [87] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [88] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [89] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [90] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [10] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [84] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [85] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Maria Goeppert Mayer. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/maria-goeppert-mayer
MLA “Maria Goeppert Mayer.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/maria-goeppert-mayer.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_maria-goeppert-mayer_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Maria Goeppert Mayer}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/maria-goeppert-mayer}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Maria Goeppert Mayer — https://4ort.xyz/entity/maria-goeppert-mayer (retrieved 2026-04-10)

Canonical URL: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maria-goeppert-mayer · Last refreshed:

Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 16d ago · Lesko987a · 2026-05-18 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32150|batch #32150]]: P2949 Update Qualifiers"
  2. 28d ago · MarisDreshmanisBot bot · 2026-05-06 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb
    "/* wbeditentity-update-languages:0||97 */ Add multilingual descriptions (97 languages) — Task 12 (Nobel laureates) — deterministic from P106 (occupation) + P27 (citizenship) labels, no machine transla"
Live feed via Wikidata EventStreams. New edits appear within minutes of being made on Wikidata.