Science

n2doc

(47,953 posts) Thu Jul 12, 2012, 07:38 PM Jul 2012

Nobel laureate occasionally hangs out on street corners, answering physics questions

By Maggie Koerth-Baker at 3:50 pm Thursday, Jul 12

This morning, I got to spend a little time chatting with Daniel Bowring, a physicist who designs particle accelerators for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. During our conversation, Daniel told me about something really cool. On at least two separate occasions, once in New York City and once in Chicago, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon Lederman has basically just set a card table up on a street corner and allowed all comers to bring him their physics questions.

I was imagining something like "Particle Physics Advice: 5 cents", which is a little off. But not by much. In the video above, you can see him in New York, hanging out in front of a wipe board that says "ASK A NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING PHYSICIST!" (Another sign to Lederman's left just has a picture of a model of the atom and an arrow pointing at him.)

It's pretty damn wonderful. And Lederman is great at quickly making physics concepts understandable. Enjoy! (And keep your eyes peeled. I really hope he does this again sometime.)

http://boingboing.net/2012/07/12/nobel-laureate-occasionally-ha.html

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Nobel laureate occasionally hangs out on street corners, answering physics questions (Original Post) n2doc Jul 2012 OP

Leon is nearly as affable as Feynman Doctor_J Jul 2012 #1

The people who listen to hate radio are dying out! What's important is reaching younger people! LongTomH Jul 2012 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author kickysnana Jul 2012 #2

I still think a particle should be named the "Leon" in honor of him n/t VWolf Jul 2012 #3

The leon neutrino has a better ring to it than the muon neutrino. rug Jul 2012 #5

Yeah, but then you'd need to rename the tau neutrino for consistency. VWolf Jul 2012 #7

What a great guy. I wish more scientists would make themselves JDPriestly Jul 2012 #6

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)

1. Leon is nearly as affable as Feynman

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Thu Jul 12, 2012, 07:48 PM

Jul 2012

I have dealt with him personally and professionally, his conversation is just as strong as his science. One thing that the US will miss over the next generation is our brilliant men of science, as they are mocked and suppressed by stupid hate radio hosts and their subjects. Leon is a die-hard liberal BTW as was Feynman

LongTomH

(8,636 posts)

4. The people who listen to hate radio are dying out! What's important is reaching younger people!

Reply to Doctor_J (Reply #1)

Fri Jul 13, 2012, 02:08 PM

Jul 2012

And this guy is doing his part! More power to him!!!!

Response to n2doc (Original post)

kickysnana This message was self-deleted by its author.

VWolf

(3,944 posts)

3. I still think a particle should be named the "Leon" in honor of him n/t

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Fri Jul 13, 2012, 12:39 PM

Jul 2012

rug

(82,333 posts)

5. The leon neutrino has a better ring to it than the muon neutrino.

Reply to VWolf (Reply #3)

Sat Jul 14, 2012, 10:02 PM

Jul 2012

VWolf

(3,944 posts)

7. Yeah, but then you'd need to rename the tau neutrino for consistency.

Reply to rug (Reply #5)

Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:45 PM

Jul 2012

Feynman nutrino?
Tao nutrino?

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

6. What a great guy. I wish more scientists would make themselves

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Sun Jul 15, 2012, 01:59 AM

Jul 2012

accessible in that way -- especially to kids.

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