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Born in 1844 in Vienna, Boltzmann grew up in a middle-class family but faced adversity early on with the death of his father. His academic prowess in mathematics and physics emerged during school, where he was even taught by the composer Anton Bruckner. Boltzmann successfully obtained his PhD at 22 and went on to teach at prestigious institutions, laying the groundwork for significant advancements in physics. His primary interest lay in thermodynamics and the study of heat, which became vital during the age of the industrial revolution—a period marked by profound technological transformation driven in part by the steam engine.