Henry George Adams

Henry George Adams, 73, passed away on October 22, 2023, in Cambridge after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. Hank, as he was known, was a renowned theoretical physicist whose work on quantum gravity contributed significantly to our understanding of the universe. Born in London, he spent most of his career at Cambridge University, where he held the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics chair once occupied by Stephen Hawking. Despite his towering intellect, Hank was known for his humility and his ability to explain complex concepts in accessible terms. His public lectures at the Royal Institution were consistently sold out, and his popular science book 'The Universe in a Nutshell (Revisited)' introduced millions to cosmology. Even as his disease progressed, he continued to mentor graduate students from his home. Hank is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margaret, their two children, and four grandchildren. His final paper, completed with the help of his former students, was published posthumously in Nature Physics. As he wrote in his memoirs: 'The universe is vast and mysterious, but nothing in it is more wonderful than human curiosity.' His intellectual curiosity continues to inspire new generations of scientists.