Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937) was a New Zealand-born physicist who is often referred to as the "father of nuclear physics." He is best known for his groundbreaking work on the structure of the atom and his pioneering research into radioactivity. Rutherford's most significant contributions include: 1. **Gold Foil Experiment**: In 1909, he conducted an experiment in which he directed alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold foil.
