Who are the Greatest Physicists in this century?

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The discussion centers around the assessment of prominent physicists from the 21st century compared to historical figures like Max Planck, Einstein, and others. Participants debate whether Stephen Hawking deserves to be considered among the greatest physicists of this century, with some arguing that his fame stems more from popular science writing than groundbreaking contributions. Others highlight his work on black holes, specifically Hawking radiation, as significant. The conversation also touches on the distinction between theoretical and experimental physics, noting that many recent contributions in experimental physics, while crucial, lack the public appeal of theoretical advancements. The dialogue reflects on the criteria for determining greatness in physics, suggesting that subjective measures like impact or media coverage can overshadow important but less glamorous contributions. Figures like John Bardeen and Kathy Sykes are mentioned, emphasizing the importance of recognizing a diverse range of physicists beyond the most famous names. The discussion concludes with a recognition of the evolving nature of physics and the potential for future breakthroughs that could redefine the landscape.
  • #31
Rach3 said:
For the love of humanity use spellcheck.

You know I've just nowticed ther is a spell checker on this web site? I've been mowning about having no spell checker for a wile and not one person pointed this owt :rolleyes: Plenty of people pointed out my crappy spealing thow :smile::-p

Modestly speaking I'd say I'm not going to be a big wheel in the physics world, might of left it too late, although of course in the world of milk I am set to be a cutting edge specialist and a guru, some might even say I'm a legend in my own lifetime :wink: :smile:

Whoever comes up with a practical working fusion engine will be big, if they can, or a quantum computer of sufficent aplication, or a hyper drive as was said. I'd settle for fusion for this century or antimatter drives, but then I'm easy, it's early days though.
 
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  • #32
Rach3 said:
That was the most obvious, easy-to-get sarcasm in the world. Honestly - superconductors? Transistors? Unimportant? I even included a little smiley icon with a "wink" feature.

Well, I have no humour in my life. Forgive me.
 
  • #33
Geographer said:
She hasn't necessarily done great things as far as I'm aware, but one of my favourite scientists at the moment is Kathy Sykes, a British physicist. :!)
...but she's a professor of making science easier for the public :biggrin: :-p :wink:

How's about Sir Michael Berry?
 
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  • #34
George Jones said:
The list also includes someone who was quite a good soccer player, although his mathematician brother was even better.

Any other famous(ish) physicists who played football at a high level? Any that made national teams?

I think the title of "Greatest Physicist" should be decided on the football pitch. Or maybe a boxing ring, who was the toughest physicist?
 
  • #35
  • #36
shmoe said:
Or maybe a boxing ring, who was the toughest physicist?

Hubble was a good heavyweight boxer.

Regards,
George
 
  • #37
Nikola Tesla is the greatest and will be so for the next 100 years at least.

Albert Einstein gave the world hot air and everybody knows him ?
 
  • #38
999 said:
Nikola Tesla is the greatest and will be so for the next 100 years at least.

Albert Einstein gave the world hot air and everybody knows him ?

Tesla was a good engineer, and a great showman, but nothing as a physicist. Einsteins's discoveries are in use every day, for example in the GPS gadgets we use now to track our locations, and his relativity theories continue to be the foundation of all kinds of physics. 999, attitude does not make up for lack of information.
 
  • #39
Einsteins's discoveries are in use every day, for example in the GPS gadgets we use now to track our locations, and his relativity theories continue to be the foundation of all kinds of physics.
I'd say that at this point in time, the transistor is used more than relativity. :) Seriously though, John Bardeen was awesome. His two Nobel prizes cover both experimental work (the transistor) and theoretical work (BCS theory). It just goes to show how varied his talents were.
 
  • #40
selfAdjoint said:
Tesla was a good engineer, and a great showman, but nothing as a physicist. Einsteins's discoveries are in use every day, for example in the GPS gadgets we use now to track our locations, and his relativity theories continue to be the foundation of all kinds of physics. ...
...to say nothing about his contributions to condensed matter physics - from an estimate of the Avogadro/Loschmidt Number to the laser equations, the phonon spectrum and heat capacity of insulators, the diffusion relations and mobilities of charge carriers in semiconductors, the statistics and condensation of bosons, and the photoelectric effect in metals, to name but a few.
 
  • #41
I am sure Zapper will go down in history as the anti mickey mouse. :biggrin:
 
  • #42
Ettore Majorana:!)

What happened to him?:frown:
 
  • #43
Lisa! said:
Ettore Majorana:!)

What happened to him?:frown:
It is said that he passed clean through the earth, and was lost from the other side, undetected!

PS: Serious though, I have no idea. All I know is that he disappeared shortly before the war, and if anything is known about his later whereabouts, I'm unaware of that.
 
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  • #44
999 said:
Nikola Tesla is the greatest and will be so for the next 100 years at least.

Albert Einstein gave the world hot air and everybody knows him ?

Trolling trolling trolling...
 
  • #45
I don't think we could chose the greatest based on the last 6 years but I'd like to contribute the guy that I admire most and look up to as it were and that is Roger Penrose. He is the dude :biggrin:
 
  • #46
Lisa! said:
Ettore Majorana:!)

What happened to him?:frown:


Check out this paper on the arxiv.

http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/physics/pdf/0605/0605001.pdf

Cool or crazy? We report; you decide.
 
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  • #47
999 said:
My definition of physics for me is about controlling the ability to do work

for the benefit of mankind. If you think Einstein was so great ask yourself

what he gave to you that is more important than AC electricity, radio,

remote control, loosely based Telsa car soon to be released (Nikola's

car was better) http://www.teslamotors.com

Einstein is DEAD ... Tesla could not believe in his time how gullible

people were to follw this idiot and he was right.

He HELPED work out the problems of AC supply, he was not the originator of the idea. He DID NOT give us radio, and his work on remote control was not the source of our modern remote control. As for the magic Tesla car, I'll believe it when I see it.
 
  • #48
I heard that Tesla also invented cheese.
 
  • #49
selfAdjoint said:
Check out this paper on the arxiv.

http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/physics/pdf/0605/0605001.pdf

:smile:
It can't be serious, right ? :rolleyes:
Well, it gave me a good laugh in any case
 
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  • #50
ZapperZ <- Great Person.
 
  • #51
ZapperZ said:
No, because that criteria on what is "best" is vague. Just like the thread on General Physics on the question "Is energy and matter the SAME thing", what criteria does one use in such a thing? Impact? Number of Nobel Prizes? Number of citations? What?

I don't play this "best" game, because it is (i)subjective (ii)meaningless, and (iii) demeaning to others in the field who are making important contributions but the work does not have the "sexyness" to garner front-page news in popular media. Next time your loved ones require an MRI to diagnose an important disease, would you then consider those who have pioneered and made advances in MRI and NMR as the important and "best" physicists?

I have no interest in trumpeting those household names. I will, however, point out the many men and women who have made terrific and significant contributions to the field of physics that have been glaringly overlooked.

Zz.

Don't worrry Zapper, you will get your prize one day. We haven't overlooked you.
 
  • #52
anyone mention any computational (astro)phys people?
 

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