Mathematics: Peter Lax, who revolutionized science and technology with calculators, has died

Hungarian-born American mathematician Peter Lax, who revolutionized science and technology with computers and pioneered the adoption of supercomputers in applied sciences, died on Friday, May 16, at his home in Manhattan at the age of 99.

The news of his death was confirmed by his son James D. Lax to the “New York Times,” who explained that the cause was amyloid cardiomyopathy.

He was professor emeritus at New York University, where he also served as director of the Center for Computation and Applied Mathematics of the Atomic Energy Commission (1964-72) and director of the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences (1972-80).

Born in Budapest on May 1, 1926, Lax was entrusted at a young age to the teachings of the Hungarian mathematicians Rósza Péter and Dénes Kőnig. When his family of Jewish origin emigrated to the United States (1941) to escape anti-Semitic persecution by the Nazis, Kőnig introduced him to John von Neumann, who became his mentor.

Lax was one of the most influential figures in applied mathematics of the 20th century. His career had a lasting impact not only on mathematical theory but also on practical applications in science and technology, making major contributions to the technical problems of the Cold War, from aircraft and weapons design to weather forecasting.