Ernest Sternglass, physicist whose research helped world see 1st moon walk, dies at 91

A physicist whose career was highlighted by research that helped capture moving images of the first moon walk has died. Ernest Sternglass was 91.

Cornell University says Sternglass died Thursday of heart failure in Ithaca, New York.

Sternglass corresponded early in his career with Albert Einstein, who encouraged him to pursue applied physics over theoretical research.

Cornell says Sternglass' research helped lead to a sensitive television camera tube that captured low-light lunar action during the 1969 moon landing. It also led to safer X-ray equipment.

He worked on medical imaging for many years at the Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Sternglass fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1938. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Cornell, as well as his doctorate.