Nathaniel Borenstein (b.1957) is an American computer scientist best known for co-developing MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions,) enabling email attachments and multimedia messaging. His contributions to internet protocols and cybersecurity shaped modern digital communication.
Born in Ohio, he earned a B.A. in mathematics and religious studies from Grinnell College (1980) and a PhD in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University (1985.) At Carnegie Mellon, he co-developed the Andrew Message System, among the first multimedia email platforms.
In 1989, Borenstein joined Bellcore, helping develop MIME and sending the first email attachment in 1992. He later co-founded First Virtual Holdings (1994,) an early internet payment system, and worked as a distinguished engineer at IBM (2002–10.) He served as Chief Scientist at Mimecast (2010–22) before returning to academia.
His publications include Programming As If People Mattered (1994,) exploring user-friendly software design, and numerous articles on internet security, email protocols, and digital ethics. A vegetarian and pacifist, he named his web server and wireless network “ahimsa” to reflect his values while supporting pacifist, leftist, and libertarian causes.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Nathaniel Borenstein
The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That’s where we come in; we’re computer professionals. We cause accidents.
—Nathaniel Borenstein
Topics: Age, Computers, Aging
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