Low-temperature physics - past and present

The major landmarks which were obtained in reaching very low temperatures are described. Three phase transitions take place at low temperatures which are regarded as being of major importance. These are the superconducting transition and superfluidity in both 4He and 3He. The discovery of each lagged behind the appropriate technology by several years. The basic properties of liquid 3He are described and a comparison is made between some of the observations of the superconducting transition in electrons and superfluidity in 3He. 8 refs., 11 figs., 1 tab