British physicist and materials scientist Cyril Hilsum, widely recognized as "the father of liquid crystals" for enabling flat-panel display tech, died at 101 (Michael S. Rosenwald/New York Times)

Michael S. Rosenwald / New York Times: British physicist and materials scientist Cyril Hilsum, widely recognized as “the father of liquid crystals” for enabling flat-panel display tech, died at 101  —  The man who helped develop the technology for liquid crystal displays — the screens in flat-panel televisions and laptops — has died at 101.