Introducing Hawking & Susskind: An Academic Tale

[neutrino]

Holy crap! Olivia Newton John is Max Born's granddaughter?

Ah, yes. I now remember reading about this. But I never knew that Newton John was also a pop-singer. I knew she acted in Grease, but that's about it.

 

[Gokul43201]

This came up before ( https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=101383&highlight=olivia ) in a thread that went off-topic so fast, the forum background turned red.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Historically speaking, and probably still true today, what disorder would sometimes extend the lives of the people who had it, and why?

 

[Gokul43201]

I don't believe this is the answer you are looking for, but there was some survey from a few years ago showing that (male) castration resulted in an average increase in lifespan by 13 years. So, I imagine low testosterone levels might have a beneficial influence on longevity...

Also, I imagine that during wartime, any medical disorder that kept a male out of the draft very likely increased his lifespan.

 

[mgb_phys]

Historically speaking, and probably still true today, what disorder would sometimes extend the lives of the people who had it, and why?

That's true for a number of disorders - which eventually become 'orders' if they prolong enough peoples lives.
Along with most europeans I have a mutation which allows me to metabolise lactose as an adult. I can also metabolise alcohol effectively which means my ancestors could drink beer instead of dirty water.
I don't have sickle-cell because my ancestors didn't live in areas with enough malaria for that disorder to have an advantage.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

MGB got it. You can't get malaria if you have sickle-cell anemia.

 

[mgb_phys]

I've done one - I think it's Gokul's turn.

 

[gravenewworld]

This mostly B-film actor obtained a masters degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney and won a fullbright scholarship to MIT, but quit two weeks later to pursue an acting career. Who is he?

 

[neutrino]

Hugh Jackman

 

[Gokul43201]

Nice guess, but it appears to not be the answer. In checking this out, I happened upon the correct answer ...and it sure as hell surprised me (mostly because he's from what's pretty close to the antipode to Sydney).

I've done one - I think it's Gokul's turn.

It doesn't matter if you've gone before. If you have the answer, it's your turn to go next.

 

[gravenewworld]

Nice guess, but it appears to not be the answer. In checking this out, I happened upon the correct answer ...and it sure as hell surprised me (mostly because he's from what's pretty close to the antipode to Sydney).

From the types of roles he has had in film you would have never guessed that he is incredibly smart. I almost fell of my chair when I found those facts out about him.

 

[Gokul43201]

From the types of roles he has had in film you would have never guessed that he is incredibly smart. I almost fell of my chair when I found those facts out about him.

I did think he was full of chemicals though...particularly, one or more of those multiring lipids.

 

[neutrino]

Haven't of him before. Would he have been better off with the scholarship?