Rutherford, Er ‧ nest /ˈɜːnəst, ˈɜːnɪst $ ˈɜːr-/ BrE AmE
(1871–1937) a British scientist, born in New Zealand, who discovered the structure of the atom, and discovered that there are three types of ↑ radiation – alpha, beta, and gamma rays. He is best known for being the first person to ‘split the atom’, when he split the ↑ nucleus (=central part) of an atom in 1919.