Introducing Hawking & Susskind: An Academic Tale

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the introduction of Stephen Hawking to Leonard Susskind, exploring the identity and profession of the individual who facilitated their meeting. The conversation also touches on historical anecdotes related to British propaganda during World War II, as well as various trivia questions and answers about notable figures in physics and biology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Participants inquire about who introduced Hawking to Susskind, with some suggesting it was Richard Feynman, while others assert it was Werner Erhard, originally a car salesman.
  • Discussion includes Erhard's involvement in transformation therapy and hosting a conference where the two physicists met.
  • One participant introduces a trivia question related to British propaganda during World War II, leading to a series of guesses about food items and inventions.
  • There is a discussion about JBS Haldane's statement regarding God's fondness for a specific family of organisms, with participants speculating on the answer.
  • Another trivia question is posed about the propulsion of the Turtle submarine, with participants providing various responses and elaborations.
  • The conversation shifts to a historical remark by Rabi regarding the muon, with participants debating the context and implications of his statement.
  • Participants discuss the familial connection between Olivia Newton-John and physicist Max Born, with some expressing surprise and making connections to quantum theory.
  • There is a mention of a previous thread that discussed Olivia Newton-John, indicating ongoing interest in the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the identity of the individual who introduced Hawking to Susskind, and there is no consensus on the trivia questions posed. The discussion remains unresolved on several points, with multiple competing views and interpretations presented.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on historical anecdotes that may not be universally accepted or verified. The trivia questions introduce additional layers of uncertainty, as participants speculate on answers without definitive conclusions.

  • #31
Ivan Seeking said:
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.
 
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  • #33
Historically speaking, and probably still true today, what disorder would sometimes extend the lives of the people who had it, and why?
 
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  • #34
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.
 
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  • #35
Ivan Seeking said:
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.
 
  • #36
MGB got it. You can't get malaria if you have sickle-cell anemia.
 
  • #37
I've done one - I think it's Gokul's turn.
 
  • #38
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?
 
  • #39
Hugh Jackman :biggrin: :rolleyes:
 
  • #40
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).

mgb said:
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.
 
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  • #41
Gokul43201 said:
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.
 
  • #42
gravenewworld said:
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.
 
  • #43
Haven't of him before. Would he have been better off with the scholarship? :rolleyes:
 

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