Eugene N. Parker (1927 - ) is a solar astrophysicist. He is most famous for developing, in the mid 1950s, the theory of the supersonic solar wind. In 1987, Parker proposed that the solar corona might be heated by myriad tiny "micro-flares", miniature solar flares that occur all over the surface of the Sun. He has received numerous awards for his work. In 1967, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. In 1989, he received the National Medal of Science. As of early 2005, he was still engaged in active research at the University of Chicago.