List of German Inventors and Discoverers - K

K

• Donald J. Kessler: Astrophysicist, known for developing the Kessler syndrome.
• Hermann Kemper: Invented the magnetic levitation train. Patent granted in 1934.
• Johannes Kepler: Discovered the laws of planetary motion.
• Wolfgang Ketterle: German-American physicist who developed an "atom laser", amongst other breakthroughs. Nobel laureate 2001.
• Erhard Kietz: Pioneer discoverer of video technology.
• Gustav Kirchhoff: Discovery of the principles upon which spectroscopy is founded.
• Martin Heinrich Klaproth: Discovered the element Uranium.
• Klaus von Klitzing: Physicist, known for discovery of the integer quantum Hall effect, 1985 Nobel Prize in Physics.
• Ludwig Knorr: Chemist, who together with Carl Paal, discovered the Paal-Knorr synthesis, and the Knorr quinoline synthesis and Knorr pyrrole synthesis.
• Robert Koch: Physician, discoverer, inventor and Nobel Prize winner. He became famous for isolating Bacillus anthracis (1877), the Tuberculosis bacillus (1882) and the Vibrio cholera (1883) and for his development of Koch's postulates.
• Arthur Korn: Inventor involved in development of the fax machine, specifically the transmission of photographs or telephotography, known as the Bildtelegraph.
• Max Kramer: Aircraft engineer. Developed the first operational guided bomb in 1942/43. This first smart bomb was radio controlled and joy-stick operated.
• Julius H. Kroehl: Inventor and engineer, who built the first functioning submarine in the world.
• Herbert Kroemer: Physicist, shared the Nobel Prize in Physics 2000 for developing semiconductor heterostructures used in high-speed- and opto-electronics.
• Werner Krüger: Developed the Krueger flap, a lift enhancement device in modern aircraft wings in 1943.
• Alfred Krupp: Pioneer in metal casting and metal working process and procedures.
• Adam Johann von Krusenstern: Navigator and explorer, led the first Russian expedition to circumnavigate the earth.
• Dietrich Küchemann: Aeronautical pioneer, developed wings for supersonic speed, such as delta wings as used in the Concorde.