Rutherford, Er‧nest /ˈɜːnəst, ˈɜːnɪst $ ˈɜːr-/
(1871–1937) a British scientist, born in New Zealand, who discovered the structure of the atom, and discovered that there are three types of radiation – alpha, beta, and gamma rays. He is best known for being the first person to ‘split the atom’, when he split the nucleus (=central part) of an atom in 1919.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲