Blumenthal was born in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 20, 1945, Blumenthal holds a
B.S. in
physics from the
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a
Ph.D. in physics from the
University of California, San Diego. Blumenthal is known particularly for his work with Santa Cruz colleagues
Sandra M. Faber and
Joel Primack and with
Martin Rees of
Cambridge University on
dark matter. Their theory of
cold dark matter, developed in the 1980s, remains the standard explanation of the formation of
galaxies and
galaxy clusters. Blumenthal has also worked in many other areas of astrophysics, including the study of
gamma-ray bursts,
accretion disks,
active galaxies, and the
microwave background radiation left by the
Big Bang. He co-authored of two textbooks,
21st Century Astronomy and
Understanding Our Universe, and has written more than 75 scientific publications.
Personal life Blumenthal is married to
UC Hastings professor of law Kelly Weisberg, with whom he has two children. ==References==