The Resume

(October 9, 1879-April 24, 1960)
Born in Pfaffendorf, Germany
Birth name was Max Theodor Felix Laue
Discovered diffraction of x-rays by crystals (1912)
Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics (1914)
Died of injuries from an auto accident

Why he might be annoying:

He did not gain the 'von' in his name as a result of his achievements in science; instead, his father, a civil servant in the military administration, was raised to the hereditary nobility.
The actual diffraction experiments were performed by two of his graduate students. (He did work out the mathematical formulas for describing the phenomenon.)
During his later years, he suffered attacks of depression and paranoia, becoming convinced that he was being persecuted by military authorities.

Why he might not be annoying:

Diffraction of x-rays by crystals marked the beginning of solid state physics and the development of modern electronics.
He wrote the first textbook on relativity (two volumes, 1911-21).
He secretly helped several colleagues being harassed by the Nazis emigrate from Germany.
In the opening address of a physics conference in Wurzburg, Germany, he compared the Nazi rejection of relativity as 'Jewish physics' to the Catholic Church's persecution of Galileo (September 18, 1933).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 20th Century Scientists
• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 10762)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 94]
• I Attended University of Paris
• I Died in 1960 (Ranked: 80)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• I was Involved in a Car Accident in 1960
• I'm Depressed [Reportedly Anxiety]
• Nobel Prize for Physics (Ranked: 1914)
• Profiles 57751-58000 (Ranked: 57823)
• Scientists

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 19 Votes: 15.79% Annoying