John von Neumann
John von Neumann (1903 - February 8, 1957) was a Hungarian-American mathematician who made important contributions in quantum physics, set theory, computer science, economics and virtually all mathematical fields. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Budapest at the age of 23.
He was one of four people selcted for first faculty of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University. He worked on the Manhatten Project.
He is the father of game theory and published the classic book Theory of Games and Economic Behavior with Oskar Morgenstern in 1944. He concieved of MAD (Mutually assured destruction), which dominated American Nuculer Strategy in the post-war era.
von Neumann devised the von Neumann architecture used in all single instruction at a time processing computers. Virtually every commercially available hone computer, micocoputer and supercomputer is a von Neumann machine. He created the field of cellular automata without computers, constructing the first examples of self-replicating automata with pencil and graph paper. The term von Neumann machine has also refers to self replicating machines. von Neumann proved thaat the most effective way of large scale mining operations such as mining an entire moon or asteroid belt are best accomplished through the use of self replicating machines to take advantage of expodential growth of such mecanicisms.
He also engaged in exploration of problems in these fields:
von Neumann had a mind of great ingenuity, nearly total recall of what he'd learned, He was an extravert who loved drinking, dancing and having a good time. He had a fun-loving nature and had a great love of jokes and humor.