FUN TO IMAGINE with Richard Feynman – Richard Feynman was a theoretical physicist who loved to imagine his way through science. He worked on the theory of quantum electrodynamics, particle physics and the behavior of subatomic particles. I have always had a fascination with science but never went beyond the basic knowledge of simple ideas like hot means molecules moved fast and cold means molecules moved slow. I did try to slug my way through Steven Hawking’s book, “A Brief History of Time”. Made it through two thirds of the book before I admitted that much of what he was talking about was over my head.
But, Richard Feynman. Ahhh, here was a scientist who could make my feeble mind grasp grand ideas. And enjoy it! I have watched many of his videos with glee as his infectious joy of science captured me. So, I was quite pleased to find this video that took several of the episodes of his talks from the old, rather poor-quality tapes, and produced them in high definition. It’s quite long for our current, fast-paced quick sound-bite society, but I found myself grinning like an idiot as I sat for the whole hour and forgot that time even existed.
I present the video here, but if you can’t spare the time now, I suggest that you bookmark it and treat yourself to someone you could easily say was your favorite professor. Enjoy!
Ah jiggle THIS you asshole. I’m a deplorable dreg, and I don’t want to listen to your bullshit. Sorry Claudia.
He was the brainiac that solved the mystery of the failed Shuttle O rings using a glass of ice water.
The O-rings were unsuitable at low temperatures and lost their resilience when cold, thus failing to maintain a tight seal when rocket pressure distorted the structure of the solid fuel booster.
Was the space shuttle launched that cold morning due to political pressure?
But he made such fantastic cookies, Moe. Why are we hanging him in effigy?
Thank you for this post. I have enjoyed Feynman’ books and other videos. He was an amazing teacher.
Thanks Claudia. Some of us intellilectchual giants will appreshiate this.
http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/
I knew Claudia was a nerd! 😀
Anon they made the new O rings down the road from my house.
Jimmy, Ooooooo, physics! Thanks for the link!
And I am a nerd … or wanna be nerd. When I worked tech support for a software company, my best buds were the nerdiest programmers ever – and I loved them (and their humor)!
um….. math is hard…
^ And infinite.
I have a friend that is a theoretical physicist… He hasn’t proved it yet but he makes some good arguments
Bright scientist with Vegas via Brooklyn, maybe Bronx, like way of delivery.
Claudia, where is the relaxed tanned one from anyway?
We are in debt to R. Feynman for his Cargo-cult Science graduation speech alone presented years ago. I like to use it rev-up the AGW advocates, and their faulty research science. And many other insightful ways of thinking about the world around us.
Ordered 3 Feynman books in Dec: The Quotable Feynman; Classic Feynman – all the adventures of a curious character; and Feynman’s Tips on Physics. Haven’t yet had time to do more than just skim through them. But they’re on the do-soon list.
Thank you, Claudia
Claudia, if you like nerdy computer programmer humor. You should like this too. About 90 minutes.
A recap by George Dyson (Freeman Dyson’s son) to the Long Now Foundation.
About the stuff he found in the archived note books at the IAS, institute for advanced study. About John von Neumann, and the guys who developed, built, and used the first computer. They needed a sense of humor.
I first knew of George because he essentially ran away from home to the opposite end of the N. America to live in a tree house and study baidarkas (Aleutian kayaks) and wrote a book, Baidarka, about their history and development,past & future.
Since then George has researched and written, I think 3 books, (2 being – Darwin in the Machine, Turings Cathedral) about computer history & future, and what their uses, good or bad, means for our future.
How about this? – the first ram memory was dots and dashes on the screen of surplus cathode ray tubes? Or a programming tape drive made from bicycle wheels? The nerdiest fun stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgA0blmTIpA .
Feynman’s “Lectures on Physics” still wobbles the mind.
I believe he was the originator of “Quantum Chromodynamics” but I may be imagining stuff.
izlamo delenda est …