Max Planck, born on April 23, 1858, changed science forever with one surprising idea. Before Planck, scientists believed that energy flowed smoothly, like water from a faucet. Planck discovered that energy actually comes in tiny packets, like drops instead of a stream. He called these packets quanta. This idea was so new that even Planck himself had trouble believing it at first. He spent years trying to prove himself wrong. But his math kept working. Other scientists tested his idea and found it was correct. Planck's discovery became the foundation of a whole new area of science called quantum physics. Quantum physics explains how the smallest parts of the universe behave. Atoms, light, and electricity all follow quantum rules. Without Planck's work, we would not have computers, smartphones, or laser technology. In 1918, Planck won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery. He continued teaching and researching in Germany for decades. Today, the Max Planck Society runs more than 80 research centers across Germany, all named in his honor.