John W. Farley

For the early 20th-century football coach, see John Wells Farley.

For other people named John Farley, see John Farley (disambiguation).

John William Farley (February 7, 1948 – June 3, 2022) was an American atomic physicist and an Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as the Southern Nevada district's representative to the American Association of Physics Teachers.^[1][2][3]

John W. Farley
Born	February 7, 1948
Died	June 3, 2022 (aged 74)
Nationality	American
Education	Columbia University
Known for	Laser spectroscopy Lead-bismuth eutectic Environmentalism
Spouse	Linda Hibbard Farley
Children	2
Scientific career
Fields	Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Institutions	University of Oregon University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Thesis	Fine structure and hyperfine structure measurements in excited states of alkali atoms by dye laser spectroscopy (1977)
Doctoral advisor	William Happer

Education

Farley received his PhD from Columbia University in 1977.^[4] His doctoral advisor was William Happer.^[5] He taught physics at the University of Oregon until 1987 when he left Oregon to join the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).^[6] At UNLV, he was also involved in the installation of Laser spectroscopy equipments with fellow physicist, Victor Kwong, in the 1980s.^[6]

Research

Farley's primary research interest was the corrosion of steel by exposure to lead-bismuth eutectic.^[7][8] He also conducted some research into molecular ions, and presented on this research at the International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy in 1999.^[9]

Views

Global warming

Farley frequently spoke out about the need for society to take action to avoid dangerous climate change,^[10][11] such as by investing in renewable energy.^[12]

Power lines

Farley contended that the proposed link between proximity to power lines and cancer is not supported by the preponderance of scientific evidence.^[13][14] He also contended that magnetic fields in general have little, if any, effect on human health.^[15]

Personal life

In the early 1980s, Farley married his partner Linda. They had two children together.^[16]

Death

Farley died on June 3, 2022 at the age of 74 from complications of Parkinson's Disease.^[16]

References

1. "John W. Farley: February 7, 1948 - June 3, 2022". Sunset Hills. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
2. John W. Farley Research Group
3. "Section Representative 2014 Handbook" (PDF). American Association of Physics Teachers. 2014. p. 22. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
4. Faculty and Staff Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Physics and Astronomy
5. Farley, John W. (May 2012). "Petroleum and Propaganda". Monthly Review. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
6. Harter, Eugene P. Moehring ; foreword by Carol C. (2007). The University of Nevada, Las Vegas : a history. Reno, Nev.: University of Nevada Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0874177091.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
7. Research Interest, John W. Farley Research Group at UNLV
8. Koury, D; Johnson, A.L. (2013). "Analysis of bi-layer oxide on austenitic stainless steel, 316L, exposed to Lead–Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)". Journal of Nuclear Materials. 440 (1–3). Elsevier: 28–33. Bibcode:2013JNuM..440...28K. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.03.093.
9. "University of Nevada Las Vegas Department of Physics" (PDF). UNLV. 2000. p. 3. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
10. Farley, John W. (31 May 2009). "Of experts and global warming". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
11. Farley, John W. (Spring 2009). "Letters". Columbia. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
12. Nordli, Brian (15 June 2012). "Panel's message: Clean energy worth the effort for Nevada". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
13. Farley, John W. (27 July 2003). "Power Lines and Cancer: Nothing to Fear". Quackwatch. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
14. Magee, Dennis (24 November 2013). "Meetings on Clean Line raise persistent questions". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 11 February 2014. John Farley, a physics professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, in a paper concluded: "The power line 'issue' illustrates how persistent a health scare can be when promoted by an author who tells a frightening tale. The power line scare has certain things in common with other health scares: Magnetic fields are not understood by the public. Nor can they be felt, tasted, seen, or touched. This makes them mysterious, easily portrayable as threatening and profitable to their advocates."
15. Woolston, Chris (25 December 2006). "Magnetic insoles attract interest, but do healing claims stick?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
16. "John W. Farley". The Register-Guard. June 22, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2023.

External links

• Rabett Run, Farley's blog