APS News

March 2015 (Volume 24, Number 3)

Members in the Media

“I think Belichick is better at keeping pressure on the passer than passing a physics test.”
Robert Kirshner, Harvard University, on the explanation from the coach of the New England Patriots of the air pressure changes in their footballs, The New York Times, January 27, 2015.

“I’ll be entirely straight and upfront with the president and make my advice as cogent and useful to him in making his decisions as I can.”
Ashton Carter, during the Senate hearing to confirm him as secretary of defense, The New York Times, February 12, 2015.

“I feel that very rarely have I done any work in my life. I have a good time. I’m exploring. I’m playing a game, solving puzzles, and having fun, and for some reason people have been willing to pay me for it. Officially, I was supposed to retire years ago, but retire from what? Why stop having a good time?”
Charles Townes, University of California, Berkely, who died on January 27, 2015, in an interview with Esquire Magazine in 2001, The New York Times, January 28, 2015.

“Even 50 years later [the discovery] remains one of the profound mysteries of the early universe.”
A. J. Steward Smith, on the discovery by Val Fitch and James Cronin of CP symmetry violation. Fitch died on February 7, 2015, The Washington Post, February 8, 2015.

“We were largely left alone. … We did our own thing, and no one came around and asked any questions. We just sat there and watched the mesons go by.”
Val Fitch, Princeton University, who died on February 5, 2015, on his experiments with James Cronin that revealed violation of CP symmetry, New York Times, February 10, 2015.

“For the past 35 years, theoretical physics has been an extravaganza of model-building, [and theories have] sort of run amok.”
Neil Turok, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, on recent data ruling out claims of gravitational wave detection by BICEP2, physicsworld.com, February 3, 2015.

“The fact that additional analysis makes BICEP’s original measurement less significant should not be viewed as a failure of science. Indeed, I think it should be viewed as a strong affirmation of the scientific method.”
Don Lincoln, Fermilab, on the results of further analysis of BICEP2 and Planck data, nbcnews.com, January 30, 2015.

“I used to think I was taking the road less traveled … . But then I realized, I’m making the road.”
Ágnes Mócsy, Pratt Institute, on her career path as a theoretical physicist and artist, scienceline.org, February 11, 2015.

“I never considered my 1,500 unsuccessful experiments as failures, because there was development each time. I believed if I had enough time I could make it.”
Hiroshi Amano, Nagoya University, on his research on light-emitting diodes that won him a Nobel prize, South China Morning Post, February 9, 2015.

“When a chocolatier tempers chocolate, what he’s doing is creating the right type of crystal structure, the type that melts in your mouth and not in your hand, the type that has that glassy appearance, the type that has that sharp snap when you break a piece.”
Joshua Erlich, College of William & Mary, on applying physics to making fine chocolate, smithsonian.com, February 13, 2015.

“We supposedly have a theory that tells us how these particles are supposed to behave and in principle it should open new doors. But in practice, our ability to calculate is quite limited.”
Frank Wilczek, MIT, on discovery of two new particles at the LHC, scientificamerican.com, February 12, 2015.

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Editor: David Voss
Staff Science Writer: Michael Lucibella
Art Director and Special Publications Manager: Kerry G. Johnson
Publication Designer and Production: Nancy Bennett-Karasik

March 2015 (Volume 24, Number 3)

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Articles in this Issue
APS Names its First Chief Executive Officer
Early Fumbles in “DeflateGate”
Smartphones in the Classroom Help Students See Inside the Black Box
APS Fellow Alan Alda Brings Science to Life
Balancing Freedom of Information and Academic Freedom
President Proposes Increased Science Funding
APS Outreach Mini-Grants Marked by Wide Range of Projects
Historic Preservation for the Atomic Age
Members in the Media
This Month in Physics History
Diversity Corner
Profiles in Versatility
APS Committee on International Freedom of Scientists
Inside the Beltway
The Back Page