Richard Feynman

Richard Feynman va néixer en un dia com avuí, el 11 de maig, fa 92 anys, a l’any 1918. Va morir al 1988.
Feynman va ser un dels científics més importants del segle 20. Entre altres coses, va treballar molt en el camp de la mecanica quantica, guanyant el premi Nobel a l’any 1965. També va ser un dels més joves implicats en l’investigació americana de la energia nuclear, i el desenvolupament de la bomba atòmica, el Projecte Manhatten. Quan el desastre del transbordador Challenger, Feynman va ser el membre de la comissió investigadora que va esbrinar la causa de l’accident.
Era un geni, com aquí s’expressa al seu biografia:

"This was Richard Feynman nearing the crest of his powers. At twenty-three ... there was no physicist on earth who could match his exuberant command over the native materials of theoretical science. It was not just a facility at mathematics (though it had become clear ... that the mathematical machinery emerging from the Wheeler-Feynman collaboration was beyond Wheeler's own ability). Feynman seemed to possess a frightening ease with the substance behind the equations, like Albert Einstein at the same age, like the Soviet physicist Lev Landau—but few others."
– James Gleick, Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman

Però sobretot era una persona enamorada de la ciència i amb unes ganes i una capacitat de divulgar-la impressionants. Les seves classes d’universitat són encara avui textos imprescindibles per qualsevol persona amb interès en la matèria. També va escriure llibres populars sobre aspectes de la ciència i la vida.
Una persona enamorada de la vida, hi ha mil i una anècdotes sobre ell. Quan el Projecte Manhatten, top secret, ell gaudia de esbrinar els numeros secrets de la caixa forta on s’amagaven els documents més confidencials! Va aprendre a tocar els tambors, a ballar, diverses llengües, pintar, fer malabarismes etc. Amb el seu amic Ralph Leighton, es van interessar pel país Tannu Tuva que havien conegut fa temps degut a les col·leccions de segells. Van emprendre una ambició i/obsessió de esbrinar tot el que podien d’aquell país (ara Tuva o Tyva), i gràcies a ells ara la seva cultura és coneguda mundialment. D’aquest esforç va néixer el grup Friends of Tuva.
Bé, aquí el tenim, amb una petita xerrada i després tocant els bongos ....

Richard Feynman (1918-1988) was born on 11th May 1918. He was one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. Among other achievements in a life packed full, he won a Nobel Pirze in 1965 for his work on quantum mechanics, worked on the Manhatten Project in the 40s, and participated with the inquiry into the Challenger disaster, eventually finding the reason for the accident. The quote included above from his biography says it all ...

But apart from that, he was a man in love with science and with education. His lectures given in the 50s and 60s are still used today by anyone with an interest in science. Rarely has anyone had such an ability to simplify and communicate complicated subjects in such a plain and enthusiastic way.
His life reflected his character, he did not stay in a stuffy office but made the most of every moment, becoming a classy bongo player, a respectable dancer, learning languages, juggler, painter. Even a safe cracker, as he managed to break the secret codes for the Manhatten Project’s safe where the confidential documents regarding the atom bomb were kept!
Feynman and his friend Raph Leighton, wondering what had happened to the little-known country of Tannu Tuva, set out on a final hobby/obsession, to find out as much as possible about this land. They are responsible for making Tuvan culture world famous, and their “research” continues today through the Friends of Tuva.

Anyway, here is the great man himself, talking and playing ...