Quotes from scientists

[Flying Pig]

Probably should point out that at the time, the prevailing theory for the development of mould was 'spontanous generation' from meat when it was left too long, and his great insight was to realise that actually it was the offspring of microscopic organisms in the air - he did an experiment with swan-necked flasks to demonstrate this conclusively. This was of course before anyone even knew that such organisms existed, let alone that they caused mould.

 

[Ailedhoo]

 

[GoodGame]

Supposedly Albert Einstein responded to a professional correspondence describing 'quantum entanglement' (i.e. the act of measuring the quantum state of particles in a system has the effect of superimposing a quantum state what would be much later experimentally demonstrated), as "spukhafte fernwirkung" which translates as "spooky action at a distance".

 

[Leoreth]

The myth of Einstein's all-around ingenuity also quickly falls apart once you bring him into contact with quantum physics.

 

[GoodGame]

The myth of Einstein's all-around ingenuity also quickly falls apart once you bring him into contact with quantum physics.

Nobody is perfect!

 

[Leoreth]

Exactly

 

[Souron]

The myth of Einstein's all-around ingenuity also quickly falls apart once you bring him into contact with quantum physics.

Einstien had philosophical quasms with quantum physics, but did not ultimately deny it's validity as a scientific theory. He did spent the later part of his life working on deterministic theories that try to explain the empirical results of quantum mechanics, but he himself identified why each of his ideas in turn did not stand up to scrutiny.

 

[Ailedhoo]

 

[dutchfire]

The myth of Einstein's all-around ingenuity also quickly falls apart once you bring him into contact with quantum physics.

The myth of Einstein's quantum problems quickly falls apart when you leave the realm of pop science/the 1950s. Einstein has probably had more influence on the current state of affairs in the foundations of quantum mechanics than Bohr.

 

[Flying Pig]

Indeed. He didn't like it, but that didn't mean he just stuck his fingers in his ears and pretended that it wasn't happening. If you want a real example of Einstein fallibility, look no further than the ever-wonderful xkcd:

Especially as that $1,219 will be worth about 1000 2012 dollars.

 

[Ailedhoo]

 

[uppi]

The myth of Einstein's quantum problems quickly falls apart when you leave the realm of pop science/the 1950s. Einstein has probably had more influence on the current state of affairs in the foundations of quantum mechanics than Bohr.

A lot of progress was made in the foundations of quantum mechanics by (successfully) trying to prove Einstein wrong. But Bohr's influence, especially on the interpretation of quantum mechanics is still quite a bit larger.

 

[Crezth]

ITT: Heh, Einstein. What a maroon.

I particularly like this one:

A hundred times a day I remind myself that my inner and outer lives are based on the labors of other people, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.

---

On Engineering...

...Herbert Hoover

This made me smile in spite of myself.

 

[Save_Ferris]

One is not thinking deeply but is quite insane when one uses Comic Sans.

 

[Formaldehyde]

A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it. Max Planck

Anyone who attempts to generate random numbers by deterministic means is, of course, living in a state of sin. John von Neumann

No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong. Albert Einstein

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein

Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. Wernher von Braun

Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy enough to be true. Niels Bohr

 

[dutchfire]

A lot of progress was made in the foundations of quantum mechanics by (successfully) trying to prove Einstein wrong. But Bohr's influence, especially on the interpretation of quantum mechanics is still quite a bit larger.

There are still a lot of people who believe in Bohr's interpretation. It is one of the many religions of this world. I have the impression this is mostly for historical reasons (Bohr being seen as having won the debate against Einstein), and this believe is held by most physicists who aren't specialized in foundations. However, I also have the impression (and hope!) that the people in the field have been moving away from the Bohrian philosophy in recent decade(s). It'll probable take quite some time for that trend to be reflected in the popular opinion though.

On Einstein's influence: The EPR set-up is very close to the Bell experiment, which leads to one of the most important foundational theorems.

 

[Flying Pig]

I was taught it essentially that Bohr's explanation isn't quite right, but it's simpler, so although its logic breaks down if you look at it too hard it does work if you want to understand roughly what happens, if not perfectly understand why it happens.

 

[The_J]

Another version: "It should be possible to explain the laws of physics to a barmaid." - Albert Einstein

And since we had a quote into the other direction, I'll also add one: "If anybody says he can think about quantum physics without getting giddy, that only shows he has not understood the first thing about them." - Niels Bohr


"When you want to conquer space, there are two problems to solve: the gravitation and the paper-warfare. With the gravitation, we could cope. " - Wernher von Braun

"I think there is a world market for about five computers." - Thomas Watson, IBM chairman, in 1943

Not a scientist, but content wise related and worth noting:
"Education is dangerous - Every educated person is a future enemy." - Hermann Goering

 

[uppi]

There are still a lot of people who believe in Bohr's interpretation. It is one of the many religions of this world. I have the impression this is mostly for historical reasons (Bohr being seen as having won the debate against Einstein), and this believe is held by most physicists who aren't specialized in foundations. However, I also have the impression (and hope!) that the people in the field have been moving away from the Bohrian philosophy in recent decade(s). It'll probable take quite some time for that trend to be reflected in the popular opinion though.

It's more or less the other way around: Those working in the field (at least on the experimental side) are usually supporters of an updated version of the Copenhagen interpetation. The importance of other interpretations are overestimated in popular culture. I haven't heard anyone seriously defending an alternative interpretation at a conference. I have heard several talks by important scientists (e.g. Zeilinger and Aspect) supporting the copenhagen interpretation.

On Einstein's influence: The EPR set-up is very close to the Bell experiment, which leads to one of the most important foundational theorems.

Yes, that's what I meant with "trying to prove Einstein wrong".