Nobel laureate occasionally hangs out on street corners, answering physics questions

[n2doc]

By Maggie Koerth-Baker at 3:50 pm Thursday, Jul 12

This morning, I got to spend a little time chatting with Daniel Bowring, a physicist who designs particle accelerators for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. During our conversation, Daniel told me about something really cool. On at least two separate occasions, once in New York City and once in Chicago, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon Lederman has basically just set a card table up on a street corner and allowed all comers to bring him their physics questions.

I was imagining something like "Particle Physics Advice: 5 cents", which is a little off. But not by much. In the video above, you can see him in New York, hanging out in front of a wipe board that says "ASK A NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING PHYSICIST!" (Another sign to Lederman's left just has a picture of a model of the atom and an arrow pointing at him.)

It's pretty damn wonderful. And Lederman is great at quickly making physics concepts understandable. Enjoy! (And keep your eyes peeled. I really hope he does this again sometime.)

http://boingboing.net/2012/07/12/nobel-laureate-occasionally-ha.html

[Doctor_J]

1. Leon is nearly as affable as Feynman

I have dealt with him personally and professionally, his conversation is just as strong as his science. One thing that the US will miss over the next generation is our brilliant men of science, as they are mocked and suppressed by stupid hate radio hosts and their subjects. Leon is a die-hard liberal BTW as was Feynman

[LongTomH]

4. The people who listen to hate radio are dying out! What's important is reaching younger people!

And this guy is doing his part! More power to him!!!!

[VWolf]

3. I still think a particle should be named the "Leon" in honor of him n/t

[rug]

5. The leon neutrino has a better ring to it than the muon neutrino.

[VWolf]

7. Yeah, but then you'd need to rename the tau neutrino for consistency.

Feynman nutrino?
Tao nutrino?

[JDPriestly]

6. What a great guy. I wish more scientists would make themselves

accessible in that way -- especially to kids.