Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat: How Two Great Minds Battled Quantum Randomness to Create a Unified Theory of Physics

by Paul Halpern

"A fascinating and thought-provoking story, one that sheds light on the origins of . . . the current challenging situation in physics." -- Wall Street Journal When the fuzzy indeterminacy of quantum mechanics overthrew the orderly world of Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Erwin Schröger were at the forefront of the revolution. Neither man was ever satisfied with the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics, however, and both rebelled against what they considered the most preposterous aspect of quantum its randomness. Einstein famously quipped that God does not play dice with the universe, and Schröger constructed his famous fable of a cat that was neither alive nor dead not to explain quantum mechanics but to highlight the apparent absurdity of a theory gone wrong. But these two giants did more than just they fought back, seeking a Theory of Everything that would make the universe seem sensible again. In Einstein's Dice and Schröger's Cat, physicist Paul Halpern tells the little-known story of how Einstein and Schröger searched, first as collaborators and then as competitors, for a theory that transcended quantum weirdness. This story of their quest-which ultimately failed-provides readers with new insights into the history of physics and the lives and work of two scientists whose obsessions drove its progress. Today, much of modern physics remains focused on the search for a Theory of Everything. As Halpern explains, the recent discovery of the Higgs Boson makes the Standard Model-the closest thing we have to a unified theory- nearly complete. And while Einstein and Schröger failed in their attempt to explain everything in the cosmos through pure geometry, the development of string theory has, in its own quantum way, brought this idea back into vogue. As in so many things, even when they were wrong, Einstein and Schröger couldn't help but get a great deal right.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics, History, Biography, Audiobook, Nature

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2015

About the author

Acclaimed science writer and physicist Dr. Paul Halpern is the author of fourteen popular science books, exploring the subjects of space, time, higher dimensions, dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets, particle physics, and cosmology. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship, and an Athenaeum Literary Award. A regular contributor to NOVA's "The Nature of Reality" physics blog, he has appeared on numerous radio and television shows including "Future Quest" and "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special".

Halpern's latest book, "Einstein's Dice and Schrodinger's Cat," investigates how physicists Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrodinger battled together against the incompleteness and indeterminacy of quantum mechanics. Their dialogue inspired Schrodinger's famous thought-experiment about a cat in a box that is in a mixed state between life and death until it is observed. They struggled to find a unified field theory that would unite the forces of nature and supersede quantum weirdness. Sadly they would never find success and their efforts would lead to a fiasco.

More information about Paul Halpern's books and other writings can be found at:
phalpern.com

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Two of the most important developments in theoretical physics occurred in the early 20th century. Albert Einstein formulated the theory of general relativity and Erwin Schrödinger, Max Planck, Louie de Broglie and others devised quantum physics. In this book, physics professor Paul Halpern discusses the origin and evolution of these groundbreaking ideas.....and Einstein and Schrödinger's lifelong quest to find a 'unified theory of everything.'


Albert Einstein


Erwin Schrödinger


Max Planck


Louie de Broglie

Theoretical physics encompasses difficult ideas described by dense mathematical formulas. Halpern, however, devises clever analogies to help the reader understand the big picture. For example, curvature in the universe is compared to a saddle or - for snack lovers - a potato chip.



And quanta (energy packets that are multiples of a very small quantity) are correlated with coins of different denominations (penny, nickel, dime, etc.).



Einstein is considered one of the greatest scientists who ever lived but - as a young person - was a rather indifferent student. The budding genius did love geometry, though, and this may have led to his developing the theory of general relativity.

The geometry Einstein studied as a boy (and what we learn in middle school) is called Euclidean geometry. This is geometry on a flat surface. In the real universe, though, things aren't flat, and a different kind of geometry - called Non-Euclidean geometry - is needed. Non-Euclidean geometry has precepts that differ from what we're used to. For instance, triangles can have three right angles and parallel lines can meet.

Einstein's theory of general relativity is based on Non-Euclidean geometry and spacetime.





Spacetime is the concept that the three-dimensional geometry of the universe (the location of things on an xyz-axis) and the time dimension (when events occur) are not separate things. They form a single unit.

In very simple terms, the theory of general relativity says:
- The presence of matter in the universe alters the geometry of spacetime - that is, it curves spacetime.
- Gravity is a manifestation of the curvature of spacetime.
- Objects that 'fall' because of gravity are following straight line paths in a curved spacetime.


Gravity is illustrated in this diagram. The grid is spacetime, the sphere is matter (let's say the Earth).....and gravity diverts the trajectory of the object (let's say the moon).


Instructor demonstrating gravity

In the early 1900s scientists discovered that sub-atomic particles (such as electrons and photons) can behave as both particles and waves. Schrödinger derived the wave equation, which is a basic tenet of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger's wave equation is used to determine information about a particle - such as its position, mass, velocity and energy - at every moment in time.



So far so good. Except that two other renowned physicists, Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, took quantum mechanics a step further.


Neils Bohr


Werner Heisenberg

They formulated the uncertainty principle, which states that you can't know dual properties of a particle - like its position and momentum - at the same instant. If you measure the position of a particle, you change it's momentum.....and vice versa. So the more precisely you know one quantity, the less precisely you know the other. Therefore, you have to rely on probabilities.



Even odder (to regular people) is the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. This states that particles DON'T HAVE definite properties until they're measured. In other words, a particle is 'smeared out' - or has a range of probabilities - until it's measured. At the moment of measurement, the particle acquires definitive properties.

Both Einstein and Schrödinger rejected this probability jibber jabber. They were sure the universe is deterministic, that events have causes, and that everything is predictable. This led Einstein to say "God does not play dice with the universe" and Schrödinger to devise "Schrödinger's cat" thought experiment - in which a cat in a sealed box is both alive and dead simultaneously. (You'll have to look it up.)



Because of their reservations, Einstein and Schrödinger tried to disprove the Copenhagen interpretation for decades, with no success. (That's probably because - according to experimental evidence - it's true.)

Both Einstein and Schrödinger also spent a large part of their lives trying to combine the general theory of relativity (the physics of large objects) and quantum mechanics (the physics of small objects) into a theory of quantum gravity (a unified theory of everything).

Einstein and Schrödinger were great friends - and had a friendly rivalry about their efforts - until 1947. That year Schrödinger thought he'd succeeded in unifying the theories and made a big announcement to the press, more or less thumbing his nose at Einstein. As it turned out, Schrödinger's equation was wrong......and Einstein didn't speak to him for three years.



Despite the efforts of many scientists, there still isn't a unified theory of everything.

Halpern doesn't shirk discussions of complex physics, and these sections can be difficult for the layperson to understand. However, the author also includes information about the personal lives of Einstein and Schrödinger, and these segments read like mini-biographies. Halpern writes about the scientists' young years, schooling, jobs, finances, children, escape from Germany and Austria before WWII, many contributions to science, Nobel Prizes, interest in philosophy (Einstein read Spinoza and Schrödinger leaned toward Schopenhauer and Eastern mysticism), and more.

Halpern also mentions some gossipy facts like: Einstein didn't like to get his hair cut, didn't wear socks, and - after divorcing his first wife - married his cousin.....to whom he wasn't faithful.


Einstein and his second wife Elsa

And Schrödinger had an open marriage. He often vacationed with a lady friend, and sometimes lived with his wife AND one or two girlfriends (some of whom had husbands).


Schrodinger and his wife Annemarie

Also, after Einstein died, the pathologist stole his brain, preserved it, and cut it up for scientific study.

Halpern emphasizes that great minds don't often make their major discoveries alone. Einstein and Schrödinger collaborated with other physicists and mathematicians - both in person and via mail. In later life Einstein had a routine: he would have breakfast with his colleagues and assistants, then stroll to his office with them - all the time having extensive discussions about physics. (Think of 'The Big Bang Theory' television show without the jokes.) Einstein also attended conferences and exchanged letters with other scientists.....as did Schrödinger. Thus, great leaps of knowledge are usually collaborative efforts - though 'celebrity scientists' often get the most credit.

I enjoyed the book (though some of it is tough going) and appreciated the insights into the advances in physics. I'd recommend the book to readers interested in the subject.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have thought that Schrödinger was such a womanizer?!



The book is mostly biographical, depicting bits and pieces from both scientists' lives, and the work, trials and war of ego around the unified field theory.

Halpern's writing is just as smooth and fluent as I remembered. Even if one is not familiar with physics terminology and concepts, his books are so easy to understand due to his communication skills - he must be a great professor!

Highly recommended.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Einstein's Dice and Schrodinger's Cat
By Paul Halpern
This has many of the subjects I like all in one book! I love history, science, and famous people all in one. Too bad one of them wasn't a werewolf. That would make it super great, but alas, no werewolf.
I found this very interesting. Although I had read other books on the two geniuses, I found this one made it easier to read. I thought it was nice that some of the heavy science was broken down a bit for those who may not enjoy this part. I liked the comparisons, too.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We see that while both [Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrödinger] maintained an interest in philosophy, Einstein was more inclined to favor Spinoza’s rigid view that the world’s laws were set from the beginning and might be logically deduced, while Schrödinger favored a more malleable perspective shaped by eastern beliefs in the veil of illusion in which society’s changing viewpoint molds truth.”

Having previously read Hoffman (Albert Einstein: Creator and Rebel, 1972) and Ferreira (The Perfect Theory, 2014), I felt like I had a fairly good handle on Einstein already. Erwin Schrödinger, on the other hand, was still something of an enigma. All I really knew (or thought I knew) about Schrödinger was his hypothetical cat—and even that wasn’t completely clear to me. I had no clue about the dynamics of their friendship. For example, I was totally unaware that it was Einstein who nominated Schrödinger for the Nobel Prize in 1933, even though he publicly took shots at Schrödinger’s quantum approach.

“The more success quantum theory has the sillier it looks.” ~Albert Einstein

Albert looked upon quantum mechanics, a theory he himself helped develop, as relevant but incomplete. Where Einstein saw deficiency (e.g. entanglement, indeterminacy and jumps between states) Schrödenger saw pliability and functionality. Quantum theory refuted relativity by its advocacy of random chance; relativity theory refuted quantum by its advocacy of determinism.

“It is hard to sneak a look at God’s cards. But that he would choose to play dice with the world is something I cannot believe for a single moment.” ~Albert Einstein, 1942

I enjoyed this read immensely, though I must admit that there were references (mainly mathematical) that went completely over my head. This deepened my fanboy appreciation for Einstein, and gave me a much better understanding of Schrödinger (and his cat).
__________________________________

“We have more reason to be grateful to [Albert Einstein] than to all the rabbis who have ever wailed, or who ever will.” ~Christopher Hitchens, 2007

[GeneralTHC · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-stars

Perhaps if you're physics major you could read this as easily as I can read through, say, a typical bestseller, but for anyone else this is not going to be an easy read at all. It's essentially a biography of both Einstein and Schrödinger combined with a crash course into some of the most important developments in the history of physics. Yeah, it's tough. Nevertheless, I found it enjoyable as I love this stuff. And I definitely learned a lot about the history of physics. However, some of the actual science (the theory of relativity) I just cannot fully get my mind around. But this is a very good book that's just absolutely chock-full of history any self-respecting fan of physics needs to know. It gets 5-stars from me just for level of research that had to go into it. I mean, we're talking PhD level research here. My advice is to get the audio for this one and listen to it many times over as you go about your day. That's what I did. And I'm sure I'll come back to it in the future time and time again.

[Jafar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did wonder what Einstein was up to after he was done with the general relativity theory. He spent a few futile decades on a grand unified theory, while ignoring quantum and elementary particles. Schrödinger was doing the same. The two never accepted the inherent uncertainty of quantum physics, even though both were the early pioneers of the quantum theory and contributed significantly to it. Each had his own personal philosophical problems with quantum physics. Einstein’s personal philosopher was Espinoza, and Schrödinger’s was Schopenhauer. This book is part science history and part biography. All in all, quite interesting.

That Schrödinger guy – he was quite a playa

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name]

Yeah I’m already lost. Mostly because of the relationship with geometry
I have absolutely no idea why I’m still listening to this. I dont know what he is talking about. Umm there are some equations and it’s all related to the universe and these two guys will end up with complementary research and stuff. Did I just sound super smart right there or what!?

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written account of the relationship between Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrödinger. It's not so much a biography of an individual person; rather it's a biography of the relationship between Einstein and Schrödinger and their mutual disdain for the consequences of quantum mechanics. The author gives enough biographical details about each man to give the reader an understanding of each man's quirkiness without going into full biography mode. So if you're looking for the same level of detail as Walter Isaacson's biography of Einstein then you'll be disappointed, but such a book would easily be 1500 pages long. And besides, that's not the point of this book.

The first chapter in the book clearly outlines the main points addressed in the rest of the book, so if you enjoy the first chapter then you'll enjoy the book. I think the author does a very good job of incorporating the scientific achievements (and shortcomings) of both men without making the book strictly about quantum theory. That is, I think the book is accessible to non-scientists while still being informative to those of us with a background in the subject.

I also think the author does an excellent job of correcting the misconceptions that many (perhaps most) people have about "Einstein's dice" and "Schrödinger's cat." Einstein wasn't talking about the God of Abraham playing craps, and Schrödinger was using the cat thought experiment to point out the absurdity of an animal being both dead and alive at the same time. The book also dispels a popular misconception about neutrinos--they don't travel faster than the speed of light. That was a premature announcement that was later retracted. This highlights how persistent misconceptions about science are and how difficult it is to reverse those misconceptions.

And this leads me to my final topic and only criticism of the book. Entropy is not disorder. Since this is such a minor point of one chapter, I won't belabor the point. It didn't diminish my appreciation of an excellent book.

[Gendou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a dry, historical account of the back and forth conversation (sometimes argument) between Einstein and Schrodinger. If that sounds boring, don't read the book. But if you're like me, you can't get enough of either of these two. This book is fun not necessarily because of the brilliance of these two characters, but their respective hubris and humanity. Einstein was wrong about quantum randomness. Schrodinger had some crazy philosophical ideas, too. One of the great things about quantume mechanics is its openness to wildly different interpretations.

[Michael Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s perhaps widely known that though Einstein is considered a founding father of quantum mechanics (QM), he’s deeply unsatisfied with its later framework (probabilistic nature, non-locality, etc.) Einstein famously said that God (in the Spinoza sense) doesn’t play dice. The famous Schrodinger’s cat thought experiment tried to exaggerate the apparent absurdity of the interpretation. Nevertheless, there’s no evidence QM is wrong. In fact, experimental validation of QM was superb. But there’s something about QM that is unsettling. Einstein and Schrodinger both tried, unsuccessfully, to come up with a “better” theory: more satisfying in some esthetic sense. Both suffered damage to their reputation because of it.

This book provides a really good summary of the story of these two scientists as they “battled quantum randomness”. There’s also just the right amount of personal life stories. For example, Schrodinger left Nazi Germany but returned to Austria just prior to Anschluss. This contributed to his having to find a position (turns out to in Ireland) and later having to overstate the importance of his finding to earn publicity for his cash-starved institute. Plus there’s some really good analogies of the physics involved (that the author is a physics professor surely didn’t hurt). A fabulous book all around.

[Umar Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

General Relativity vs Quantum Mechanics. Spinoza’s God vs randomness. Two most successful theories explaining the Universe as it seems yet at odds with each other. The Question is whether God could create Chance ??
This definitely turned out to be the most exciting read of the year. It covers up all the basic questions n people who came up with them n all the possible answers.
It’s a roller coaster ride through the inner workings of the greatest minds of the century. Scientists who gave us or text books n the life as we know it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish the book had more science and less biography. Although, I knew little about Shrodinger's life before I read this. I find quantum theory intersting, even though I don't understand very well.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read this book because it was suggested to me after reading by Manjit Kumar's"Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality" and since I had enjoyed that book so much I thought I would listen again to a retelling of the story. I must note that both of this book is an Audible books that came "free" with the monthly subscription so I didn't immediately buy a another book on the same topic!

I almost gave up after the first chapter as the writing style was different in some way and not as compelling but I kept listening and in the end enjoyed this book for different reasons.

Even though it tells the same story, this book goes deeper into the relationship of Einstein and Schrödinger and also their own personal and family relationships in quite intimate details. Both had, what I imagine were, quite unconventional marriages and were quite eccentric characters.

With the rise Nazism, both fled Germany/Austria though Schrödinger tried initially to keep out of trouble by pledging allegiance to Hitler and then thought better of it eventually landing in Dublin, became an Irish citizen and was embroiled in the Irish Republican cause as he was invited to the become a professor at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies consisting of the School of Theoretical Physics, the School of Cosmic Physics and the School of Celtic studies all interests of the Irish revolutionary leader, his sponsor, Éamon de Valera.

The book ends with a discussion of the role of science reporting in the press and the hype around Einstein in his latter years, even though he was on the fringe of academic work he was still in the forefront of public appeal. Also, how Einstein arose to fame around the time of the moving picture and mass circulation of photo newspapers. It notes how his image of being a lone "mad scientist" became iconic in the public mind even though the reality of his being at the forefront of science was long since gone and how his friendship with Schrödinger was damaged due to the press reporting a misrepresentation of Schrödinger's claims to have a new unified theory that surpassed even Einstein's theories.

I did realise one more thing while reading this; listening to the same story told again gives new insights and understanding. I have known about this for a long time but I think I will purposefully do it again in future, that is to read back-to-back two books on the same topic. It is only after reading several books on a topic that you get a feeling for what the topic encompasses.

[Beige Alert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bounced back and forth between biography and in-depth theory descriptions, which as usual lost me plenty, but other reading and general interest kept me vaguely aware of what Hapern was writing about ---- so only 70-80% lost half of the time?

Knowing almost nothing of Erwin Schrödinger, I found the biographical sketches of him the most interesting part of the book, and in the end, I wish I'd read a biography of him instead. Perhaps it can serve as a bit of a primer if I ever roll around back to it and find a bio - he had a very interesting personality and life, particularly for the time it seems.

I think it could have been a shorter and more focused book, though I enjoyed it.

[Shannon Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I really miss physics

[Evan Fish]

Interesting history on some physicist.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of Walter Isaacson's biography about Einstein, only dryer. I had trouble staying focused, found my mind wandering. It would have been a better book if it had been infused with more passion.

Even with its dry nature, the good bits were really good. Halpern isn't as kind as Isaacson in his portrait of Einstein. He portrayed him in an extremely favorable light at times, but at other times his description reminded me of what people today say about Richard Dawkins-- that he had relevance when he burst on the scene but that his denial of progressive science, backed by all the current evidence, made him not only irrelevant but served to hinder actual progress. It was possibly the most unflattering depiction I have read to date. That's not a bad thing. Halpern backed up his jabs with Einstein's own words and actions. Over all it was fair, providing both the good and the bad. It's just that I have never seen the bad presented in such a way before.

I had heard about Schrödinger's life in various books. This one, by far, gives the most detailed account that I have read. I would not have minded just reading a book about Schrödinger's strange existence. Halpern painted him as quite the narcissist, almost on par with Dolnick's portrayal of Newton in his book Clockwork Universe.

For me, Halpern didn't explain the science in terms that were as helpful to me as other authors I have read. At times the biographies her presented seemed patchworked together in a way that didn't always flow. However, near the end of the book, Halpern gives a surprisingly great, and very brief, summary of the Standard Model and is crystal clear about why is has, so far, been our best hope for a unified field theory. The new information about Schrödinger and the exceptional discussion of the Standard Model at the end of the book alone made the rest of it worth reading.

[Menglong Youk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Einstein's Dice and Schrődinger's Cat" is more like a history of their mutual friendship rather than the individuals; it highlights important events of both men and their early involvement in physics, revealing their personal views on the newest frontier at that time, quantum physics. Both were skeptics about this new chapter; despite being ones of the crucial contributors to the new theory, their versions somehow disagreed to it and they used the analogy of dice and cat to underscore its insanity, and we have to admit that it is. Einstein and Schrődinger had one common goal: to find the unify theory of physics.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learnt as much as possible from my most feared subject in physics. Maybe I didn't get all of the contents that the author would like to share, but I feel like my grasp on this area is a bit better than it was two years ago.

[Daniel Farabaugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seemed to lack purpose. It was well researched and written but I do not know what it was trying to say about the two main figures. It read like a review of scientific developments and not the contest of great minds it wanted to set up.

[Abhishek Agarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is plainly a book on history of interaction of two greatest minds. It doesn't provide any detail into real substance of arguments or discussions between the two. Not a great book to understand anything in twentieth century physics.

[Howard P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book about two of the world’s most famous physicists of the 20th century - Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrodinger. Both were brilliant theoretical physicists and each, a Nobel Prize winner. Einstein studied the biggest scale, how the Universe works, while Shrodenger focused on the smallest particles, known as Quanta or Quantum Physics. The problem that drew them together was the search for a Unified Theory, one set of equations that worked for both scales. Unfortunately, that was something that neither was able to accomplish, and remains the Holy Grail of physics to this day.

So, if you are well versed in Cosmology and Quantum Physics have at it. For someone looking for a more basic book about physics, you might be better off reading a book by Bill Bryson.

Warning: This book delves deep into physics. I don’t think it could be understood without an extensive knowledge of physics. It is not written for someone who wants to learn about these two brilliant men, as most of the book concentrates on the science more than their lives.

[Becky Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

And now for something completely different:

Halpern has written a fascinating, readable book about two great minds and their contributions to science. Their minds were great, but these two were extraordinarily common humans, who made mistakes, were rude, had numerous complex romantic entanglements, and lost their tempers. Did I mention that the word "eccentric" doesn't come close to describing them?

I was impressed by how Halpern weaves the two stories together and teaches a lot about physics in the passing. Nicely done.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book interesting. I saw it in the library listings and when I went to Amazon to see if it was something I was interested in I discovered the audiobook was free with my Audible membership.

I do not do math and the science in this book is way way way too advanced for me. The historical events outweighed the science as I hoped it would. It depicted a side of Einstein that was quite different from my impression of him. And Schrodinger was quite the character. All I knew of him was his famous cat and I didn’t understand the import of his analogy. I sort of do now, more than I did, but quantum mechanics just isn’t my jam. Despite that I enjoyed the book and I’m glad I stumbled onto it.

[Bahar çelik]

Bu kitabı okurken sıkılmamak için fizik bilimine mesai harcamış olmak gerekiyor. Fizik sevmeyenler okumasın :)

[Amjad Al Taleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The private lives of Schrodinger and Einstein with easy-to-understand description of their major contributions to science.

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

HA or Ah-HA! This is pure nerdy fun....

[Eric Mandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good summary of the history and many different personalities involved with physics in the early 20th century

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book!
Who thought Schrödinger was such a ho😂

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about the relationship that Einstein had with Schrodinger. Sometimes the physics was a little bit dense, but manageable. Einstein was truly a remarkable man.

[Thomas J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm intrigued by quantum physics and theory and yet I don't understand it at all. I'm just too lazy to do the math. This was a fairly easy to read - although it took me a long time - history of Einstein and Schroedinger and their rivalry to come up with a unified field theory (or as Douglas Adams would put it, the answer to life, the universe, and everything). Schroedinger's move to Ireland was particularly interesting.