FreemanDysonWords
Okay. This is not an article. This is an articulation. Of pure excitation!!!!
Today--- I shook hands with FREEMAN DYSON!
Yes, at the Space Telescope Science Institute at Hopkins, where he spoke. AHHHHH!
Dyson is quite possibly the most charmingly, disarming scientist I've ever met. Even when discussing nuclear bombs.
LOTS to say about him... and little time to update this blog. But! If looking for a stellar read, scope "Disturbing the Universe." A masterpiece of his. Freeman Dyson -- a brilliant scientist, an innovator of his time -- has a way with words.
Interesting tidbit about Dyson-- he was a member of the JASONS, a group of 40 scientists who met each summer after 1959 to consider defense related problems for the Pentagon.
As the Vietnam War escalated in spring 1966, a Pentagon official close to President Johnson was heard by scientist Freeman Dyson to say, "It might be a good idea to toss in a nuke from time to time, just to keep the other side guessing."
This comment apalled several of the JASONS, Dyson included, and it spurred their study to systematically explore the utility of tactical nuclear weapons in the Vietnam War. The study looked at the effects of using nuclear weapons against a variety of targets, as well as the likely political effects of a nuclear campaign.
The conclusions drawn by the JASONS (about whom my advisor, Ann Finkbeiner, will soon release a book!) might be relevant today, given the possible conflicts faced by the United States. They also become relevant considering that the Bush administration has expressed willingness to use nuclear weapons against "rogue states."
More soon! much in the pipeline... Richard Chaisson/TB/Bayer. Ryugo & his congential felines. Perhaps some Schisto work... woah, Nelly!
-MGW-
Today--- I shook hands with FREEMAN DYSON!
Yes, at the Space Telescope Science Institute at Hopkins, where he spoke. AHHHHH!
Dyson is quite possibly the most charmingly, disarming scientist I've ever met. Even when discussing nuclear bombs.
LOTS to say about him... and little time to update this blog. But! If looking for a stellar read, scope "Disturbing the Universe." A masterpiece of his. Freeman Dyson -- a brilliant scientist, an innovator of his time -- has a way with words.
Interesting tidbit about Dyson-- he was a member of the JASONS, a group of 40 scientists who met each summer after 1959 to consider defense related problems for the Pentagon.
As the Vietnam War escalated in spring 1966, a Pentagon official close to President Johnson was heard by scientist Freeman Dyson to say, "It might be a good idea to toss in a nuke from time to time, just to keep the other side guessing."
This comment apalled several of the JASONS, Dyson included, and it spurred their study to systematically explore the utility of tactical nuclear weapons in the Vietnam War. The study looked at the effects of using nuclear weapons against a variety of targets, as well as the likely political effects of a nuclear campaign.
The conclusions drawn by the JASONS (about whom my advisor, Ann Finkbeiner, will soon release a book!) might be relevant today, given the possible conflicts faced by the United States. They also become relevant considering that the Bush administration has expressed willingness to use nuclear weapons against "rogue states."
More soon! much in the pipeline... Richard Chaisson/TB/Bayer. Ryugo & his congential felines. Perhaps some Schisto work... woah, Nelly!
-MGW-
posted by Meagan G at
4:06 PM
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