Get to Know
CHIEN-SHIUNG WU
In this fact-file find out why we turned Chien-Shiung into a superhero.
WHO WAS CHIEN-SHIUNG WU?
Name: Chien-Shiung Wu
Born: 1912
Died: 1997
Occupation: Experimental Physicist
Nationality: Chinese-American
Chien-Shiung made significant contributions in the research of radioactivity and helped develop the process for separating uranium. Age 24, Chien-Shiung moved to the US to study. She never saw her parents again.
Wu won several awards and honours and her research helped answer important biological questions about blood and sickle cell anemia. She was also the first woman to serve as president of the American Physical Society.
Find out more in this video by STEMulus.
Born: 1912
Died: 1997
Occupation: Experimental Physicist
Nationality: Chinese-American
Chien-Shiung made significant contributions in the research of radioactivity and helped develop the process for separating uranium. Age 24, Chien-Shiung moved to the US to study. She never saw her parents again.
Wu won several awards and honours and her research helped answer important biological questions about blood and sickle cell anemia. She was also the first woman to serve as president of the American Physical Society.
Find out more in this video by STEMulus.
In The Remarkablz Universe, Chien-Shiung can create a mirror image of herself. Born in a small town near Shanghai, Chien-Shiung was eight when she gained her superpowers. She can instantly and perfectly mirror herself, copying her clothes and weapons. Maintaining control over her mirror image can be difficult over long distances. Chien-Shiung is brilliant and wants to build a better, balanced and more beautiful world. She works incredibly hard to balance her career and life as a Superhero.
Superhero Backstory
Chien-Shiung features in our signature card game, Top Quarkz. The game supports the development of maths, literacy and decision-making skills all while learning about some of the most impressive scientific discoveries throughout history. She also features in our colouring book, Newton's Rainbow.
We've explained the drawing and her playing card below so you can learn more.
We've explained the drawing and her playing card below so you can learn more.
Reflection control
In Chien-Shiung's hand is a depiction of the basic idea of the Wu experiment
Superpower
The Wu experiment was a nuclear physics experiment conducted in 1956 by Chien-Shiung.
Chien-Shiung was born in Shanghai China in 1912.
Location
SideKick
Chien-Shiung was married to the Physicist, Luke Yuan.
Maintaining control over her mirror image can be difficult over long distances.
Weakness
Each drawing we create has one or more hidden treasure(s) about our superheroes' life experiences, depictions in art, jobs or discoveries. Did you find the ones hidden in this drawing?
Discovery
We have packed a lot into our Top Quarkz playing cards - from amazing imagined superpowers to biographical information and hidden treasures.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
What Do Physicists Do ?
A physicist is someone who explores and identifies the basic principles that govern the structure and behaviour of things.
Physics is one of the major branches of science. People who work in physics are called physicists. Physicists study matter, forces and energy. The objects that physicists study range in size from the tiny, tiny building blocks of matter to huge groups of stars.
Video credit: RADICAL JR.
Physics is one of the major branches of science. People who work in physics are called physicists. Physicists study matter, forces and energy. The objects that physicists study range in size from the tiny, tiny building blocks of matter to huge groups of stars.
Video credit: RADICAL JR.
What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was a secret science project during World War II. It brought together some of the smartest scientists in the world to work on a powerful new type of weapon—the atomic bomb.
Scientists like Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Chien-Shiung Wu were part of the effort.
Video credit: SciShow
Scientists like Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Chien-Shiung Wu were part of the effort.
Video credit: SciShow
What is Parity?
Parity in science that means "mirror image" or "left and right." Imagine holding up your left hand in front of a mirror. In the mirror, it looks like your right hand. That’s what parity is all about—flipping things to see if they behave the same way in reverse.
For a long time, scientists believed that tiny particles in atoms (like electrons and neutrons) would always act the same way, even if you flipped them like in a mirror. Chien-Shiung Wu did a famous experiment and showed that some particles actually behave differently when flipped!
Video credit: Up and Atom
For a long time, scientists believed that tiny particles in atoms (like electrons and neutrons) would always act the same way, even if you flipped them like in a mirror. Chien-Shiung Wu did a famous experiment and showed that some particles actually behave differently when flipped!
Video credit: Up and Atom
Want to discover more? Why not read a book about Chien-Shiung, one of the one of the greatest physicists who ever lived, or dive into the world of our science superheroes.
Chien-Shiung features in our giant colouring poster: Fetters Chaos
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