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On a related note, there seems to be a nearly infinite demand for stories related to Feynman in HN in particular[1] and internet in general. No wonder, his coll

On a related note, there seems to be a nearly infinite demand for stories related to Feynman in HN in particular[1] and internet in general. No wonder, his colleagues like Schwinger and Gell-Mann were pissed off as they didn't receive anywhere close to that kind of attention[2][3]. [1] https://hn.algolia.com/?query=feynman&sort=byPopularity&prefix=false&page=0&dateRange=all&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?query=feynman&sort=byPopularity&pref... [2] https://hn.algolia.com/?query=gell-mann&sort=byPopularity&prefix=false&page=0&dateRange=all&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?query=gell-mann&sort=byPopularity&pr... [3] https://hn.algolia.com/?query=schwinger&sort=byPopularity&prefix=false&page=0&dateRange=all&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?query=schwinger&sort=byPopularity&pr...

akira2501 10y ago
Perhaps this isn't the place for this, but I've always loved this comic: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2103 http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2103
hug 10y ago
Feynmann is not a popular figure just because of his contributions to physics. I'd say his popularity stems from how engaging a person he is: It's hard to watch Feynmann talk about something he's interested in (and he's interested in everything!), and to see that twinkle in his eye, and not be gripped by whatever the subject is. There's something special about his childlike wonder at the way things work. All of that, and he's absolutely astoundingly intelligent, articulate, and friendly. This video where he's asked how magnets "work" [youtu.be/ewcJR2nqDV4 - 7:30 long, from The Fantastic Mr. Feynmann] is amazing. He takes seven minutes to respond to a question. He doesn't even answer the question properly, and yet it's the perfect response. Even the most science-averse of my friends are able to enjoy watching that video. And that's just the science bit! He's also done crazy and interesting things: Cracking safes in Los Alamos that had research documents on the atomic bomb and leaving taunting notes. He used to work off napkins in topless bars. He was just an all-round interesting guy. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that neither Schwinger nor Gell-Mann have these same qualities.
- ehudla 10y ago
  While different in personality from RPF, Gell-Mann's range of interests and abilities is even more inspiring. I can't locate it now, but I recall the anecdote of him learning Swahili on the plane ride over. Here's a profile of him: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/08/magazine/the-man-who-knows-everything-murray-gell-mann.html http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/08/magazine/the-man-who-knows... Or check out his Santa Fe homepage to appreciate his incredible range of interests. http://tuvalu.santafe.edu/~mgm/Site/Front_Page.html http://tuvalu.santafe.edu/~mgm/Site/Front_Page.html
thr0waway1239 10y ago
So the story goes: A moderately famous physicist came to lecture at the university where Feynman was teaching. Feynman, a few minutes before the physicist had arrived at the lecture hall, read the notes at the lectern and spotted a mistake. As the lecture was going on, Feynman apparently pointed out the mistake as if he had spontaneously identified it. The physicist, obviously astonished at that point, offered to stop the lecture if there was a mistake in his calculations. But Feynman asked him to continue, and apparently they became good friends later. Schwinger and Gell-mann were pissed off because of two things - obviously they couldn't match Feynman's charisma, but they also felt he went around "generating anecdotes about himself" which contributed to that charisma somewhat. Can someone confirm this story?
- coupdejarnac 10y ago
  Gell-Mann on his annoyance with Feynman's thirst for anecdotes: https://youtu.be/rnMsgxIIQEE https://youtu.be/rnMsgxIIQEE

akira2501 10y ago

Perhaps this isn't the place for this, but I've always loved this comic: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2103 http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2103

hug 10y ago

Feynmann is not a popular figure just because of his contributions to physics. I'd say his popularity stems from how engaging a person he is: It's hard to watch Feynmann talk about something he's interested in (and he's interested in everything!), and to see that twinkle in his eye, and not be gripped by whatever the subject is. There's something special about his childlike wonder at the way things work. All of that, and he's absolutely astoundingly intelligent, articulate, and friendly. This video where he's asked how magnets "work" [youtu.be/ewcJR2nqDV4 - 7:30 long, from The Fantastic Mr. Feynmann] is amazing. He takes seven minutes to respond to a question. He doesn't even answer the question properly, and yet it's the perfect response. Even the most science-averse of my friends are able to enjoy watching that video. And that's just the science bit! He's also done crazy and interesting things: Cracking safes in Los Alamos that had research documents on the atomic bomb and leaving taunting notes. He used to work off napkins in topless bars. He was just an all-round interesting guy. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that neither Schwinger nor Gell-Mann have these same qualities.

ehudla 10y ago
While different in personality from RPF, Gell-Mann's range of interests and abilities is even more inspiring. I can't locate it now, but I recall the anecdote of him learning Swahili on the plane ride over. Here's a profile of him: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/08/magazine/the-man-who-knows-everything-murray-gell-mann.html http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/08/magazine/the-man-who-knows... Or check out his Santa Fe homepage to appreciate his incredible range of interests. http://tuvalu.santafe.edu/~mgm/Site/Front_Page.html http://tuvalu.santafe.edu/~mgm/Site/Front_Page.html

thr0waway1239 10y ago

So the story goes: A moderately famous physicist came to lecture at the university where Feynman was teaching. Feynman, a few minutes before the physicist had arrived at the lecture hall, read the notes at the lectern and spotted a mistake. As the lecture was going on, Feynman apparently pointed out the mistake as if he had spontaneously identified it. The physicist, obviously astonished at that point, offered to stop the lecture if there was a mistake in his calculations. But Feynman asked him to continue, and apparently they became good friends later. Schwinger and Gell-mann were pissed off because of two things - obviously they couldn't match Feynman's charisma, but they also felt he went around "generating anecdotes about himself" which contributed to that charisma somewhat. Can someone confirm this story?

coupdejarnac 10y ago
Gell-Mann on his annoyance with Feynman's thirst for anecdotes: https://youtu.be/rnMsgxIIQEE https://youtu.be/rnMsgxIIQEE