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Walther Kossel

German physicist (1888-1956)

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Born
January 4, 1888
Died
May 22, 1956
Zodiac sign
Capricorn
Birth year
1888

About Walther Kossel

Walther Ludwig Julius Kossel (German: [ˈvaltɐ ˈkɔsl̩]; 4 January 1888 – 22 May 1956) was a German theoretical physicist known for his theory of the chemical bond (ionic bond/octet rule), the Sommerfeld–Kossel displacement law of atomic spectra, and the Kossel–Stranski model for crystal growth. In papers published in 1914, 1916, and 1920, Kossel was the first to explain the theory of absorption limits in X-ray spectra. During his tenure there in 1934, he discovered X-ray lattice interference of spherical waves in crystals during the bombardment of single-crystal copper with a high-energy electron beam.

Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.

Walther Kossel timeline

  1. In papers published in 1914, 1916, and 1920, Kossel was the first to explain the theory of absorption limits in X-ray spectra.
  2. During his tenure there in 1934, he discovered X-ray lattice interference of spherical waves in crystals during the bombardment of single-crystal copper with a high-energy electron beam.

The world when Walther Kossel was born

Walther Kossel was born in 1888. The year snapshot below places that birthday in its cultural and historical setting: the music and films people were following, the headlines shaping public life, and the everyday prices families encountered.

Headlines and milestones

  • Top headlineGreat Blizzard of 1888 paralyzes US East Coast
  • Technology milestoneKodak box camera — "You press the button, we do the rest"
  • Defining fadKodak camera craze
  • World population~1.48B

United States snapshot

  • U.S. leaderGrover Cleveland
  • U.S. population57.6M

1888 versus 2026

These figures put everyday life in Walther Kossel's birth year beside the site's latest United States snapshot.

Measure18882026
Population57.6M341 million

Sources and editorial standards

This profile combines a biographical source with structured birthday and historical context. Sources recorded for this profile: Wikipedia, Library of Congress. See our editorial policy for sourcing, corrections, and review standards.

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