Age: 51
Occupation: Co-founder of Intellectual Ventures, scientist, cook, author
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
Leave it to a scientific genius to cause a massive stir in the culinary world. Nathan Myhrvold previously served as Microsoft's chief technology officer, started his own patent-holding company and studied with Stephen Hawking, but with the release of his new collection of culinary works the five-volume, $625 Modernist Cuisine he has redefined what it means to cook by using the same scientific principles and techniques he brings to his empirical research.