Enrico Fermi was born in Rome, Italy. His father, Alberto Fermi, was a division head in the Ministry of Railways, and his mother, Ida de Gattis, was an elementary school teacher. From a young age, Enrico displayed exceptional aptitude for mathematics and physics, quickly devouring textbooks far beyond his age level. This early intellectual curiosity and self-directed learning would characterize his entire career.

Fermi earned admission to the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, bypassing the entrance exam with his exceptional knowledge. He excelled in physics and mathematics, often teaching his professors about new developments in quantum mechanics. He simultaneously attended the University of Pisa, where he officially received his doctorate in physics in 1922. This period solidified his foundation in theoretical physics and set the stage for his future research.

At the remarkably young age of 24, Fermi was appointed Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Rome. He quickly gathered a talented group of young physicists around him, including Emilio Segrè, Edoardo Amaldi, and Ettore Majorana. This group, known as the 'Via Panisperna boys' after the street where their lab was located, became a powerhouse of physics research in Italy.

Fermi and his team in Rome made a groundbreaking discovery: that bombarding elements with slow neutrons significantly increased the likelihood of nuclear reactions. This insight, crucial for developing nuclear reactors, stemmed from their systematic study of neutron-induced radioactivity. This discovery paved the way for nuclear fission and earned Fermi the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Enrico Fermi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 'for his demonstrations of the existence of new radioactive elements produced by neutron irradiation, and for his related discovery of nuclear reactions brought about by slow neutrons'. Fermi used the occasion of his trip to Stockholm to collect the prize to escape Fascist Italy with his Jewish wife, Laura Capon, and their children. They emigrated to the United States.

Upon arriving in the United States, Fermi took a position at Columbia University in New York City. Here, he confirmed the discovery of nuclear fission by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann and began exploring the possibility of a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. This research was pivotal in understanding the potential for nuclear energy and the development of atomic weapons.

Fermi played a crucial role in the Manhattan Project, the top-secret Allied effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. He led the team that built and operated Chicago Pile-1 (CP-1), the world's first artificial nuclear reactor. On December 2, 1942, CP-1 achieved sustained nuclear chain reaction, a historic moment in human history. He later moved to Los Alamos National Laboratory to contribute to the design and construction of atomic bombs. His theoretical and experimental expertise were invaluable to the project's success.

After the war, Fermi accepted a professorship at the University of Chicago's Institute for Nuclear Studies (later renamed the Enrico Fermi Institute). There, he continued his research in nuclear and particle physics, mentoring numerous students who would become leading physicists themselves. He also made significant contributions to the understanding of cosmic rays and particle interactions.

Enrico Fermi died of stomach cancer in Chicago at the age of 53. His death marked the premature loss of one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century. His legacy lives on through his scientific contributions, his students, and the enduring impact of his work on our understanding of the universe.