Wolf V. Vishniac Scientist
Wolf Vladimir Vishniac (April 22, 1922 – December 10, 1973) was an American microbiologist, son of Roman Vishniac. Educated at Brooklyn College and Stanford University, he was a professor of biology at the University of Rochester. He died on a research trip to the Antarctic attempting to retrieve equipment in a crevice. The crater Vishniac on Mars is named in his honor. Wolf Vishniac contributed greatly to the search for life on Mars by developing a special miniature laboratory that could be transported to that planet. This research was supported by a NASA grant started in 1959, the very first ever for the "biological sciences." The Viking 1 Mars probe contained such a device but did not find any conclusive signs of life.