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Brian May, Rock Legend, Soon-To-Be Astrophysicist

Posted by Zonk on from the we-are-the-champions-my-friend dept.

xPsi writes "Brian May, the guitarist for the legendary rock band Queen (age 60), has finally decided to submit his Ph.D. thesis in astrophysics. The title is 'Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud.' From the article: 'May was studying astrophysics at Imperial College when he formed Queen with singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor in 1970. He dropped his doctorate research into interstellar dust as the band met with increasing success.' And, hey, if this whole Rock-n-Roll thing doesn't pan out, at least he'll have something to fall back on."

12 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. Studies by BWJones · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Rock on... \m/ \m/

    It is never too late for scholarly accomplishment and is encouraging to see folks go back to finish work begun many years prior or even to begin studies later than would be traditionally done. I'd like to think that if I can achieve a certain financial independence that I'd complete a second Ph.D. later in life in a field completely unrelated to the one I am working in now. Perhaps something cool like history...

    On top of that, perhaps Dr. May's degree will help focus a little positive attention on science given that many in politics these days seem to have made us scientists out to be the boogey man/woman.

    --
    Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
    1. Re:Studies by BWJones · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You must be an American.

      Well, that is one of the most ignorant things I've heard today... Am I misunderstanding the sentiment or just what is it that you are trying to say?

      I've never seen why people feel they need a "second" PhD.

      It is not about the piece of paper that says PhD. Rather, it is the level of accomplishment that the doctorate represents.

      So in fact what you really want to do is read for a BA (or BSc) in a new area - just do it at a good university (which unfortunately rules out most).

      Actually, well run doctorate programs provide not just the place for students to learn at, but other individuals/colleagues/mentors in that field of study who can challenge you and help direct your studies far beyond what is available to most undergraduate departments. The academic rigor of doctoral programs far surpasses the more casual familiarity with material and the expectations are much higher as well which is what many folks who love learning are after, particularly if the field of their interest is far away from their area of formal training.

      --
      Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
    2. Re:Studies by norton_I · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think what he is saying, which you have either missed or ignored completely is that once you have a PhD you should be a (possibly junior) partner, not a student with a mentor. A PhD is a research degree, and the purpose is to train you to learn things that nobody knows. Once reach that level, the field matters less--as long as you have solid knowledge of the fundamentals (i.e., at a bachelors or masters level). Hence the car analogy.

    3. Re:Studies by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You mean because I have a PhD in English I can qualify to work as a postdoc physicist in only 2 years?

      Look out, Stephen Hawking! I got my god particle hanging right here.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    4. Re:Studies by sayfawa · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm sorry, but that's just wrong. Maybe it was like that in times past, but not today. Even in the UK a PhD does include learning about specific things. Not only would my group never hire someone without a PhD specifically in physics (possibly physical chemistry), they wouldn't hire someone without experience specifically in laser cooling (which you won't get in any undergrad program). A person with a bachelor's degree in physics and a PhD in social work would be completely useless to us.

      --
      Free the Quark 3 from asymptotic confinement! Bring your charm! Don't get down! All colours and flavours welcome!
    5. Re:Studies by sayfawa · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If they have a PhD in something other than physics, and they have the appropriate experience, then yes, they would get hired by my group. My point is that, today, that required experience comes with the physics PhD. The PhD is not something where you just improve your research techniques. There are important things that you learn during your PhD that do not get taught in undergrad and don't get taught in the grad studies of other fields.

      So yes, I agree technically that it's not what one's PhD is in that's important, it's what one knows. But the fact is, no one without a PhD in physics (or physical chemistry) would have the experience that our group would require, especially when compared to other job candidates who did do their PhD in physics. My group not hiring someone without a physics PhD is not a failing on the part of my group, it's just a practical realization of that fact.

      --
      Free the Quark 3 from asymptotic confinement! Bring your charm! Don't get down! All colours and flavours welcome!
    6. Re:Studies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Actually, he did mention that remarkably little research has been done on ZL since he binned his PhD in 1972...

  2. He recently released a book as well. by attemptedgoalie · · Score: 5, Insightful


    http://www.banguniverse.com/

    How cool is it that after all of the concerts, the world tours, the money, that he completes a life project like this?

    How many people that attain the level that Queen rose to, would just spend their time spending the money?

    I think it's awesome that he's going to finish up.

    --
    My mom says I'm cool.
    1. Re:He recently released a book as well. by jgrahn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How cool is it that after all of the concerts, the world tours, the money, that he completes a life project like this? How many people that attain the level that Queen rose to, would just spend their time spending the money?

      Or worse, re-form Queen with some twit replacing Freddie ...

  3. Re:He can still think! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Acid is pretty much the drug least likely to fry your brain...

    Anyway, the most common - and probably most destructive - drug used by musicians is...alcohol!

  4. not quite by oohshiny · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I agree that a second Ph.D. is pointless for the reasons you say, however...

    So in fact what you really want to do is read for a BA (or BSc) in a new area - just do it at a good university (which unfortunately rules out most).

    No, to get started in a new field you want to take MA or MSc courses in a new area; the BA/BSc is supposed to prepare you for graduate study in general. Or just read the books and watch the lectures on-line.

  5. M.D. /Ph.D. by OldBaldGuy · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The only place I see mention of multiple PhD holders is in American fiction such as television and Hollywood movies.

    I take it you don't do much clinical medical research? The M.D./Ph.D. combo is not uncommon there. The M.D.'s usually have done a residency/passed the specialist boards, too.