Cyril Hilsum, physicist behind liquid crystal displays, dies at 101

Cyril Hilsum, the government physicist whose research into liquid crystals enabled the development of flat-panel television and computer screens, has died aged 101. His work at the Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern led to the creation of durable liquid crystal displays (LCDs) now ubiquitous worldwide. In the late 1960s, Hilsum led a Ministry of Defence team tasked with creating flat displays to replace bulky cathode-ray-tube screens for radar systems. He collaborated with George Gray and Peter Raynes to develop a stable cyanobiphenyl mixture by 1972, which was licensed to BDH, generating over £100m in royalties for the government from watches, calculators, and later laptops and phones. Born in Stepney to street traders, Hilsum earned a physics degree from UCL and held senior roles including UK chief scientific officer. He also developed the Gunn diode and infrared lasers, held over 70 patents, and was appointed CBE in 1990. He is survived by his daughter Lindsey and a grandson.