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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Physics Quote of the Day (December 6 - December 12)

"Innovation is everything. When you're on the forefront, you can see what the next innovation needs to be. When you're behind, you have to spend your energy catching up." Robert Noyce, born 12 December 1927.

"I am now convinced that theoretical physics is actually philosophy. It has revolutionized fundamental concepts, e.g., abut space and time (relativity), about causality (quantum theory), and about substance and matter (atomistics). It has taught us new methods of thinking (complimentarity), which are applicable far beyond physics." Max Born, born 11 December 1882.

"Mathematics is the science of what is clear by itself." Gustav Jacobi, born 10 December 1804.

"While science and technology play critical roles in sustaining modern civilization, they are not part of our culture in the sense that they are not commonly studied or well comprehended. Neither the potential nor the limitations of science are understood so that what can be achieved and what is beyond reach are not comprehended. The line between science and magic becomes blurred so that public judgments on technical issues can be erratic or badly flawed. It frequently appears that some people will believe almost anything. Thus judgments can be manipulated or warped by unscrupulous groups. Distortions or outright falsehoods can come to be accepted as fact." Henry Way Kendall, born 9 December 1926.

"Perhaps our ultimate understanding of scientific topics is measured in terms of our ability to generate metaphoric pictures of what is going on. Maybe understanding is coming up with metaphoric pictures." Per Bak, born 8 December 1948.

"God made the integers, all the rest is the work of man." Leopold Kronecker, born 7 December 1823.

"Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sleeves and coffee served in beakers." George Porter, born 6 December 1920.

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