The Economic Times

At 10, he solved complex math problems. Unlocked the atom's true power. But his 3-word question about aliens changed how scientists see the universe

Enrico Fermi was a child maths prodigy who went on to become one of the most important physicists of the 20th century, helping advance nuclear research and playing a key role in the first controlled nuclear chain reaction. But his legacy extends beyond the atomic age. During a discussion about the possibility of extra-terrestrial life, Fermi asked a deceptively simple question that raised a much bigger mystery about the universe.