Summary

Benjamin Labatut presents a fictional examination of the lives of numerous real-life scientists and mathematicians with an emphasis on the field-altering discoveries they made and the repercussions they had on the world, both beneficial and destructive. Labatut helps up bear witness to each’s personal struggles - both as geniuses on the threshold of discovery and as regular human beings - prone to the same pitfalls as the rest of us.

Key Takeaways

• Even the most seemingly beneficial discoveries have unintended consequences
  • Carl Scheele: (1742-1786) Discovered oxygen and other elements
  • Fritz Haber: (1868-1934) Haber-Bosch process, ammonia for fertilizers + explosives + gasses
  • Karl Schwartzchild: (1873-1916) General relativity equations, necrotizing gingivitis
  • Shinichi Mochizuki: (1969-) ABC theory proof, extreme social phobia
  • Alexander Grothendieck: (1928-2014) Founded modern geometry, banned distribution of own work
  • Werner Heisenberg: (1901-1976) Quantum mechanics, developed while isolated and in delirium
  • Louise de Broglie: (1818-1882) Quantum theory
  • Erwin Schrödinger: (1887-1961) Quantum mechanics, recovering from tuberculosis
  • Neils Bohr: (1885-1962) Atomic structure and quantum theory
• The greatest minds are often quirky and tormented

Notes

Prussian blue

• Fritz Haber
• Prussian blue → cyanide discovery
• Cyanide, poison gas, etc.
• Chlorine gas attacks in first world war
• Haber-Bosch process: nitrogen from air
• Most important discovery of 20th century

Schwartzchild’s singularity

• Karl Schwartzchild
• Youngest published professor in Germany
• Worked feverishly, very recklessly
• Discovered differing colors of stars
• War slowly drove him mad
• Theorized singularity based on Einstein’s equations where time turns in to space

The heart of the heart

• Shinichi Mochizuki
• Discovered proof to ABC theory which promises to revolutionize math
• Still only person who understands it
• Extreme social phobia
• Alexander Grothendieck
• Sought “heart of heart” of mathematics
• Quirky, grew indifferent to physical pain
• Attempts to undo all influence in end of life, bans sale and dissemination of his work

When we cease to understand the world

• Werner Heisenberg
• Developed theory isolated, state of delirium
• Louise de Broglie
• Erwin Schrödinger
• Equation for electrons as waves / imaginary, couldn’t understand implications
• Complementarity: Described by Neils Bohr to unify Heisenberg, Schrödinger equations
• Einstein could not accept uncertainty in Heisenberg’s principle, universe
• Bohr would explain each Einstein scenario until he conceded
• “God does not play dice with the universe”

The night gardener

• Fictional character