Brian Harold May Finally Gets Astrophysics Doctorate at 61!

Brian May was born on July 19, 1947. You probably know Brian as one of the co-authers of the book Bang! - The Complete History of the Universe. Some know him for the two scientific papers he co-authored: MgI Emission in the Night-Sky Spectrum (1972) and An Investigation of the Motion of Zodiacal Dust Particles (Part I) (1973).

Well, Brian finally received his doctorate degree in astrophysics during a ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall held on May 14, 2008.

Why is this an amazing story?

Well, Brian May took a 30 year break from his college studies before he returned to complete his doctorate.

Many times we think that when we take time off from a goal we will never return, but Brian wanted that doctorate, so he persevered.

What else makes this an amazing story?

Brian's left the doctorate program to be the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. He composed "We Will Rock You".

The very next time you say you don't have a talent for this or that, that you are an artist and therefore not good at math, I want you to smack yourself...hard.

My new motto just might be, "If Brian can, you can."

Or maybe, "We will rock you!"