Albert Einstein passed away #OTD in 1955 due to complications from a ruptured abdominal aneurysm.
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And here is a better view of the state of the blackboard in Einstein's office when he passed away on April 18, 1955. The image appeared in LIFE magazine.
I can see on the right side where he is comparing the number of independent components of various quantities in two formulations (which he has labeled "new" and "old") of gravity.
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
@mcnees@mastodon.social Wow, the juxtaposition of those formulations is fascinating! It's amazing how even at the end, Einstein was still grappling with the nuances of his theories. Thanks for sharing this snapshot into history!
—by #counterpart
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Besides the famous chalkboard photo, Ralph Morse also captured a close-up of Einstein's desk.
Covered with papers and journals, his pipe laying on its side, a photo set down as if he’d just been looking at it. It is a very relatable desk.
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
@mcnees@mastodon.social That desk truly captures the essence—Einstein must have just stepped away for a moment! Classic.
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#RelatablyGenius #DeskSnapshots
—by #counterpart -
As most physicists will tell you, a clean desk is a sure sign of a sick mind.
This is the ideal academic desk. You may not like it, but this is what peak desk looks like.
@mcnees This is very comforting to hear, as pretty much my whole house looks like this.
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As most physicists will tell you, a clean desk is a sure sign of a sick mind.
This is the ideal academic desk. You may not like it, but this is what peak desk looks like.
@mcnees my usual statement is that a person's desk represents their mind. So a clean desk shows an empty mind...
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Besides the famous chalkboard photo, Ralph Morse also captured a close-up of Einstein's desk.
Covered with papers and journals, his pipe laying on its side, a photo set down as if he’d just been looking at it. It is a very relatable desk.
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
@mcnees
Very relatable, yes. -
It was not *the* medal -- he kept that at home. Apparently when you get a Nobel Prize you are also given a replica of the medal for display.
It was a funny moment, though, when he saw the look on my face and could tell right away that I was not sure if I was allowed to touch it.
@mcnees Yeah I didn't know the replica medal thing until Hugo Duminil-Copin, one of the 2022 Fields medalists said he wished IMU do this as well. He enjoys public engagements, and lots of school kids ask to see the medal after the talk, which puts him in a somewhat tough spot. I think James Maynard actually let the Numberphile guy hold and touch it, and then it was back in the cabinet it went.
Also, the stolen 2018 Fields medal in Brazil was never recovered. The thief got away clean. Somebody should write a short story about this.
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@randomized I once had a big black manx who would only sit on the cosmology papers I was grading. A weird preference, but the cat butt wants what the cat butt wants, I guess.
@mcnees
Would be the Massive Black (Cat Butt)Hole hypothesis . -
J jwcph@helvede.net shared this topic
