quantum stars' home movie

[Martin]

this 2 minute "home movie" was taken during a 10 minute break at the 1927 solvay conference in Brussels.

 

it is a moment in history when Schrödinger, Heisenberg, Born, Dirac, Pauli, Kramer are young guys excited by what they have just discovered during the past couple of years, Quantum Mechanics ('25. '26)

and their seniors Bohr and Einstein, only a bit older, are excited too, and

they are all milling around, discussing stuff, no one knows how it will turn out. no one is acting dignified either.

 

http://www.maxborn.net/index.php?page=filmnews

 

I clicked on the "realplayer" version and it took a while to download but I thought it was worth it.

 

http://216.120.242.82/~greensp/solvay.ram

 

I think you could say that creativity in those people had reached risky levels, each one of those individuals (the main ones in the movie) is in some way dangerous;

the discovery of quantum mechanics (1925-26) was a decisive event for the 20th century. they look happy, but not relaxed, more high-strung and over-animated I'd say.

Maybe you will have a different impression, if you take the time to download and view it.

[Severian]

Actually, I am surprised by how 'normal' it all looks - my over-riding impression was that it looked just like modern conferences do (minus the hats). People get hyper because of the social interaction rather than anything else - you are cooped up in your office most of the year and finally you get to speak to people about your work. They looked like people who have just got out of a session of lengthy talks and are about to go off to the pub to chat about their work.

[Martin]

Actually, I am surprised by how 'normal' it all looks - my over-riding impression was that it looked just like...

 

to me they look like kids at christmastime

(everybody reacts differently to visuals)

 

it seems to me that you are very lucky if this excitement is normal for you

 

only Wolfgang Pauli is scowling. I think he often was looking grouchy, perhaps because he felt his genius was not sufficiently respected.

 

BTW the movie is in two parts. during the 10 minute break they all look happy (except Pauli), even the guy with the broken leg.

 

then they all go back into the meeting hall, and when they come out again none of the principles look happy. on the whole they seem worried, selfconscious, solemn to me.

the narrator remarks on the change that occurred in the mood

 

did you watch that segment at the end?

 

I think I noticed Einstein stick out his tongue at the camera, perhaps that was usual for him and he did it on a number of occasions

[5614]

I think I noticed Einstein stick out his tongue at the camera, perhaps that was usual for him and he did it on a number of occasions

Well there are a few photos of him like that, so it is quite possible what you say is correct.