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Leon Lederman, 96, Explorer and Explainer of the Subatomic World, Dies (nytimes.com)
Leon Lederman, whose ingenious experiments with particle accelerators deepened science's understanding of the subatomic world, died early Wednesday in Rexburg, Idaho. He was 96. From a report: His wife, Ellen Carr Lederman, confirmed the death, at a care facility. She and Dr. Lederman, who had long directed the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory outside Chicago, had retired to eastern Idaho. Early in his career Dr. Lederman and two colleagues demonstrated that there are at least two kinds of particles called neutrinos (there are now known to be three), a discovery that was honored in 1988 with a Nobel Prize in Physics. He went on to lead a team at the Fermi laboratory, in Batavia, Ill., that found the bottom quark, another fundamental constituent of matter.
For those baffled by such esoterica, Dr. Lederman was quick to sympathize. "'The Two Neutrinos' sounds like an Italian dance team," he remarked in his Nobel banquet speech. But he was determined to spread the word about the importance of the science he loved: "How can we have our colleagues in chemistry, medicine, and especially in literature share with us, not the cleverness of our research, but the beauty of the intellectual edifice, of which our experiment is but one brick?"
For those baffled by such esoterica, Dr. Lederman was quick to sympathize. "'The Two Neutrinos' sounds like an Italian dance team," he remarked in his Nobel banquet speech. But he was determined to spread the word about the importance of the science he loved: "How can we have our colleagues in chemistry, medicine, and especially in literature share with us, not the cleverness of our research, but the beauty of the intellectual edifice, of which our experiment is but one brick?"
Sorry to see him gone. He will be most remembered for his popularizing the term "the God particle" for the Higgs Boson. The term was a euphemism for the phrase "the god-damn particle," but the euphemism seems to have stuck.
It's always sad when such a bright star burns out so early.
RIP.
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro(to wander like a planet), and knowledge will increase(since Eve ate of the forbidden tree).
Big supported of STEM education in Chicago before it was cool and called STEM.
> he long directed the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory outside Chicago, had retired to eastern Idaho
Interesting choice. Eastern Idaho is basically an extension of the State of Nothing... ooops I mean Wyoming. At first I thought, 'Well maybe he's an Idaho rancher' but I see there's a Bringthem Young mormon university there. I guess he became a professor in his later years.
I'm always curious about how/why people go to new places when they quit their lifelong careers.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Or, if it works better for you, get right with Ganesh. That works, too.
It's a little odd for some of you to think that God has the head of an elephant, so chances are you probably don't spend much time praying to Ganesh, but, really, saying that there's a God with the head of an elephant is no more silly than saying God impregnated a virgin to give birth to himself so he can die and then resurrect himself, because he can't forgive sins unless he gives himself as a sacrifice to himself.
Atheist, not athiest. And he became an atheist many decades before he developed old age dementia. You are either ignorant or else a damn fool.
Atheist, not athiest. And he became an atheist many decades before he developed old age dementia. You are either ignorant or else a damn fool.
Actually, unless you can prove it, being an agnostic makes more sense. For all you know, Mickey Mouse is running this show.
hardly, there is no evidence whatsoever that anything but random chance over billions of year has produced everything. god(s) is/are an invention of the human mind
I met Dr. Lederman at a reception after he won the Nobel Prize. I was in high school in Aurora, IL. He was very gracious even to a young nerd such as me, and the event made quite an impact on me. Rest in peace, Dr. Lederman.
This is not true. Watch the winter sunlight.
Nice. That's the sort of thing more labs should have - a way of kids getting experience alongside real researchers.
In his popular book, The God Particle, he mentioned that he wanted to major in chemistry, but decided it was "too hard." So he switched to physics. I can relate.
If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
Thirty years ago, when his book, The God Particle, came out, I had him sign my copy. He was kind enough to write the Heisenberg uncertainty relation after my name.
Had dinner with him once. He teased the theoretical physicists about the greatest danger in their job being falling asleep and possibly putting an eye out on their pencil as their head came down on the desk.
His joy and passion for all science and discovery was infectious to be around - even for a short dinner.
I'd like to know where I can find Batavia, 3.
hardly, there is no evidence whatsoever that random chance over billions of year has produced everything. god(s) is/are an invention of the human mind
FTFY
You do realize that Jesus ran around with twelve GUYS, yes? Seems he preferred men's company to women's. I think that pretty much explains the misogynist bent in modern Christianity.
It matters not what life you have lived. No one is beyond God's love.
If Hitler has said those words a few minutes before he dies he'd be in heaven now?
Damn. Them's some powerful words.
No sig today...