When asked what sparked his interest in physics and quantum computing, John Martinis, 2025 physics laureate, mentioned that one of his motivations came from his father.
Martinis' father was a fireman with a high school diploma who loved building things in the garage. From a young age, Martinis spent time watching him do this. What he learned wasn’t just how to practically construct things – it was the confidence to build and create. That early experience was one of the factors that eventually guided Martinis to study experimental physics.