b'PeopleNewsVale: Dr Sheldon Breiner (19362019)instrument also proved to be efficient at detecting small magnetic objects such as guns. We can thank Sheldon and his magnetometer gradiometers for our security delays at airports and official buildings. Another one of his unique ideas was the insertion of magnets in ski boots to aid in the recovery of victims of an avalanche. In this way, he outfitted the first American team to ascend Mt Everest in 1962.Sheldon helped the US Government track down sunken submarines, and on one occasion he found a hydrogen bomb that had fallen into the ocean after a B-52 bomber collided with a refuelling jet over Spain in 1966.He continued leading Geometrics until 1983, when he made the first of his several departures from magnetics and founded Syntelligence Inc., an artificial intelligence company that designed software intended to replicate the wisdom of experts in fields like banking or insurance underwriting. Sheldon Dr Sheldon Breiner also founded a number of ventures specializing in start-up high-tech Australian geophysicists are perhapsmeasure the piezo-magnetic propertiesconcerns, only some of which involved not so familiar with the many andof rocks under stress as a way ofgeophysics. One such venture developed often unusual achievements of Drpredicting earthquakes. This was inspireda resistivity technique for detecting oil Sheldon Breiner, a resident of California.by his proximity to the San Andreasthrough casing, and another aimed to However, many know of Geometrics, theFault and its associated tremors. Indeed,directly detect hydrocarbons from aircraft Californian company that he founded inbecause his home in Portola Valley is onand deep-towed marine sensors. He was 1969 and which has been operating forthe fault, he maintained a seismograph inalso working on using semiconductor 50 years. his basement as a warning of impendingtechnology, for which he held a patent, quakes. to mitigate the consequences of using Sheldon died at the age of 82 at his homea mobile phone while driving and, most in Portola Valley, California, near PaloWhile at Stanford, Sheldon met Phyllisrecently, he was working on an electronic Alto. Farrington, whose friends know her assignature verification system. His ideas Mimi. They married in 1962. In additionwere always forward-thinking, and he has Sheldon began working withto her he is survived by their daughterbeen described as a serial inventor with magnetometers long before he finishedMichelle, their son David, and fivemany other patents pending.his education at Stanford University wheregrandchildren. Another son, Aaron, diedSheldon was a prolific writer. He he gained an MSc in 1962 and a PhD inin 1966. published over 30 technical papers 1967. He was so proficient with themand one book, Applications Manual for that Varian Associates, a Silicon ValleyIn 1969, after six years at Varian, SheldonPortable Magnetometers. Over many company that made electromagneticstarted up Geometrics and guided itshundred thousand copies later, that book equipment, employed him while he wasexpansion from solely a manufacturer ofis still a primer on the magnetic search completing his masters degree. He ismagnetometers to adding an extensivefor buried objects, the applications of thought to be the first to use optically- line of seismographs and geoelectricalportable gradiometers, operational pumped magnetometers for geophysics,instruments as the company matured.considerations of proton magnetometers, and part of his research includedThe original founding employees were:and the earths magnetic field and its the first airborne test of a rubidiumWilliam Jacobson, Tony McBride, Dougvariations. He was the Heiland Lecturer magnetometer-gradiometer in Arizona.OBrien, Alan Edberg and Robert Prindle.at Colorado School of Mines, and an He was also the first to make use of EulersAll but Jacobson had been employees ofoccasional lecturer in the Graduate theorem for depth to magnetic basementVarian. School of Business and the Department determinations as expounded in his MSc. Sheldon promoted the use ofof Geophysics at Stanford University. Taking a slightly different tack, his PhDmagnetometer gradiometers forHe was a Member of SEG, EAGE, Society involved the use of magnetometers tominerals and hydrocarbons, but theof Petroleum Engineers, American 17 PREVIEW DECEMBER 2019'