Ahmed Zewail

Pioneered femtochemistry to capture molecular movements

Egyptian-American chemist Ahmed Zewail (1946-2016) created femtosecond spectroscopy, allowing observation of chemical reactions at 10^-15 second scales. His 1999 Nobel Prize recognized this 『birth of femtochemistry』 breakthrough.

At Caltech, Zewail's team developed ultrafast laser techniques to image transition states in reactions. This enabled controlling molecular processes, impacting drug development and nanotechnology. He later used 4D electron microscopy to film nano-scale motions.

As science envoy to Middle East, he advocated for 'science diplomacy'. The Zewail City of Science and Technology in Cairo continues his vision of Arab scientific renaissance. His autobiography 『Voyage Through Time』 inspires global researchers.