The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Crackpots
Aug 13, 2024
Explore the chaotic world of crackpots and scientific discovery. Delve into the duality of order and disorder through the lens of particle discoveries, including the fascinating journey of the electron. Uncover the tension between Bayard Peaks, who sought attention through turmoil, and Dan Shechtman, who revolutionized science with quasicrystals. Encounter the tragic tale of Eileen Fahey, contrasting with the breakthroughs that followed. Discover how open discourse can lead to unexpected insights in the scientific realm.
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Shechtman's Scientific Origins
- Dan Shechtman grew up loving science and Verne, later becoming a crystallographer.
- His background and curiosity led him to notice impossible diffraction patterns in alloys.
The Lab Moment That Began Quasicrystals
- Shechtman was working at NIST on rapidly cooled metal alloys when he found an odd pattern.
- The unexpected diffraction led him to shout, "There ain't no such animal."
Peaks' Pamphlets And Rejection
- Bayard Peaks wrote numerous pamphlets denying electrons and promising male immortality.
- He mailed thousands of copies after being rejected by the American Physical Society.