Michael Wulf Friedlander was an accomplished astrophysicist known for his pioneering research in cosmic rays and his efforts to make science accessible to the public. He was born on November 15, 1928, in Cape Town, South Africa. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees with honors from the University of Cape Town. He then completed his PhD in physics at the University of Bristol in England. While at Bristol in the early 1950s, he collaborated with MGK Menon on a series of notable studies involving high-energy particle interactions in nuclear emulsions. Their work included the discovery of the beta decay of the kaon, the first precision measurement of the lambda-zero hyperon's mass, and evidence of the associated production of kaons and hyperons.

In 1956, Friedlander moved to Washington University in St. Louis, where he spent the rest of his academic career. One of his earliest initiatives there was to replicate the cosmic ray laboratory he had worked with in Bristol. His research focus shifted to the study of cosmic rays, particularly through the use of high-altitude balloon-borne equipment. This approach enabled him to conduct nuclear-emulsion studies of the elemental composition of light cosmic rays.

By the late 1960s, in collaboration with graduate students and colleagues such as Joseph Klarmann and Robert M. Walker, Friedlander undertook pioneering work in the study of ultra-heavy cosmic rays�those with atomic numbers greater than 26. These rare particles were captured using large-area balloon flights carrying nuclear emulsions and plastic track detectors, representing some of the earliest and most influential research in this domain. Friedlander's investigations extended to the effects of cosmic ray particles on interstellar environments, including studies on the dust and gas around Eta Carinae, a massive, luminous stellar object believed to be a source of energetic particles.

In 1962, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in recognition of his scientific contributions. In the early 1960s, Friedlander was also involved in the Committee for Nuclear Information and played a key role in the Baby Tooth Survey, which demonstrated the presence of radioactive strontium-90 in children's teeth due to nuclear testing fallout. These findings helped pave the way for the 1963 Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere.

In 1972, he authored The Conduct of Science, a book addressing science's societal impact and scientific methodology. Throughout his career, he remained deeply involved in science education and public outreach. In 1990, he published Cosmic Rays, a popular science book aimed at conveying the significance and wonder of cosmic ray research to a broad audience. In 1994, he launched the Saturday Science Lecture Series at Washington University, a program designed to engage the public with accessible presentations on physics and other scientific topics. He organized and participated in these lectures until 2015, and the series continues as a testament to his vision.

In 1998, he authored At the Fringes of Science, which was later updated in 2018, examining the demarcation between science and pseudoscience. In 2000, he published A Thin Cosmic Rain: Particles from Outer Space, furthering his outreach to general audiences about cosmic ray research.

Within the university, he held multiple leadership roles, including Chair of the Faculty Senate, president of the local chapter and vice president of the national American Association of University Professors, and chairman of the Library Services Committee. He also served as the longtime overseer of the Crow Observatory and even chaired the Department of Music for a time. He was a founding member of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences at Washington University.

Friedlander passed away on April 29, 2021, in St. Louis at the age of 92.