How the Hippies Saved Physics — David Kaiser

During a visit to the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, David Kaiser, History of Science professor at MIT, spoke about his latest book, How the Hippies Saved Physics.

Today, quantum information theory is among the most exciting scientific frontiers, attracting billions of dollars in funding and thousands of talented researchers. But as MIT physicist and historian David Kaiser reveals, this cutting-edge field has a surprisingly psychedelic past. How the Hippies Saved Physics introduces us to a band of freewheeling physicists who defied the imperative to "shut up and calculate" and helped to rejuvenate modern physics.

For physicists, the 1970s were a time of stagnation. Jobs became scarce, and conformity was encouraged, sometimes stifling exploration of the mysteries of the physical world. Dissatisfied, underemployed, and eternally curious, an eccentric group of physicists in Berkeley, California, banded together to throw off the constraints of the physics mainstream and explore the wilder side of science. Dubbing themselves the "Fundamental Fysiks Group," they pursued an audacious, speculative approach to physics. They studied quantum entanglement and Bell's Theorem through the lens of Eastern mysticism and psychic mind-reading, discussing the latest research while lounging in hot tubs. Some even dabbled with LSD to enhance their creativity. Unlikely as it may seem, these iconoclasts spun modern physics in a new direction, forcing mainstream physicists to pay attention to the strange but exciting underpinnings of quantum theory.

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[NutsKleerofski]

woah, that would be very interesting to read))))

[PaulTheSkeptic]

I'm glad we, ... er, they did something so positive. I'm a fan of the Dead and like to wear tie dye. There are some who might call me a hippy. But I really hate the alternative medicine garbage that seems so popular with some who might carry that moniker. And the crystal gazing, chakra aligning spiritual mumbo jumbo too. I love the music and the questioning of mores but I can't stand the credulity.