Jeremy Bernstein

'Freeman Dyson has had an extraordinary range of interests, serious activity and influence. This is reflected in the choice of topics in these essays … This book is informative, very entertaining and well up to the high standards attained previously by this author!'Contemporary PhysicsMy friendship with Freeman Dyson goes back over a half century. My first contact with him goes back to the late 1950s, when I was at the Institute for Advanced Study, and then evolved when I was a consultant at General Atomics in La Jolla, California. Freeman was then trying to design a space ship — the Orion — which would be propelled by atomic bombs. When I left the Institute, Freeman and I continued our correspondence and I saved his letters. They are written in an almost calligraphically elegant handwriting. It is hard to see how you could make a mistake in a mathematical computation if you wrote that clearly. The letters show his human side and his enormous range of knowledge.There are then two essays involving the physicist Fritz Houtermans who was an extraordinarily colorful character. There is a brief essay on Einstein's collaboration with a fraud. There is even an essay on the Titius-Bode law and the new exo-planets. Because of my enduring interest in nuclear weapons, the reader will find essays devoted to that. There is also a bit of fiction at the end.

This book is an essay collection, along with short stories, which attempts to explain some scientific ideas.Jeremy Bernstein was a long time staff writer for The New Yorker Magazine as well as a theoretical physicist. He has received several awards for his writing.

This book is an essay collection, along with short stories, which attempts to explain some scientific ideas.Jeremy Bernstein was a long time staff writer for The New Yorker Magazine as well as a theoretical physicist. He has received several awards for his writing.

Beginning on the 18th of March, 1905,at approximately eight week intervals, the noted German physics journal Annalen der Physik received three hand-written manuscripts from a relatively unknown patent examiner in Bern. The patent examiner was the twenty-six year old Albert Einstein and the three papers would set the agenda for twentieth century physics. A fourth short paper was received by the journal on the 27th of September. It contained Einstein's derivation of the formula E=mc2. These papers with their many technological ramifications changed our lives in the twentieth century and beyond. While to a professional physicist the mathematics in these papers is quite straight forward, the ideas behind the mathematics are not. In fact, none of Einstein's contemporaries fully understood what he had done. The goal of this book is to make these ideas accessible to a general reader with no more mathematics than one learns in high school. PRAISE FOR BOOK: "With wonderfully chosen digressions and some sophisticated physics plus the minimum amount of math to support it, Jeremy Bernstein has produced a charming account of Einstein’s epoch-making papers of 1905. Here is surely the thinking person’s guide to Einstein’s ‘Miracle Year." —Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Author, The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus "Why are physicists celebrating the centenary of Einstein’s miracle year? In this gem of a book—and in simple words—Bernstein explains how young Albert, in that one year, set the foundation to a century of progress in physics." —Sheldon L. Glashow, Winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize inPhysics, Professor, Boston University

An inspiring and heartwarming collection of true love stories from the creators behind the viral Instagram and TikTok account @meetcutesnycIn 2023, three friends-Jeremy Bernstein, Aaron Feinberg, and Victor Lee-took to the streets of New York City to ask couples how they met and what the secret sauce is to staying together. Today, they have more than 4 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, and more than 300 million views, on TikTok, captivating audiences around the world. For the first time in print, Meet Cutes NYC is a collection of 75 stories-a mix of new and fan favorites-alongside beautiful portraits of the couples, photographed exclusively for the book. Each interview opens the same way, "Excuse me, are you two a couple?" Followed by, "Can you tell us the story of how you met?" But the stories are each unique-like Chris and Clay, who met while auditioning for West Side Story (they both got it). And Joe and Liza met in a hardware store-while Liza was with her boyfriend at the time. There are stories of couples who met on public transportation, at a party, through friends, at work, at church-you truly never know where you might find love. There are also stories of second chances-like Mike and Karen-who met in college, broke up, and then bumped into each other again two years later, walking toward each other Third Avenue; they fell into a kiss and have been married for 37 years.Beyond how they met, couples share their partner's favorite traits, what they love to do together, and how they make their relationships work. Meet Cutes NYC is a celebration of modern-day love connections-across all ages, genders, and backgrounds. From couples who just met to those who have been together for decades. The book is a refreshing dose of real love stories, from real people. It will appeal to anyone in love or looking for love, to glean advice and inspiration from.

The Academy Award winning motion picture Oppenheimer introduced the legendary nuclear physicist to a new generation. Oppenheimer was a puzzle to everyone. The nuclear physicist most responsible for the creation of the atomic bomb, he was a genius both scientifically and otherwise. His standards were impossibly high. He read widely in many languages, wrote poetry, and did superb science. Yet in Jeremy Bernstein's intensely interesting biographical memoir, Oppenheimer emerges as a man unsure of his identity and captive to an element of self-destructiveness in his makeup. As a former colleague of Oppenheimer's, Bernstein has composed a book that is both personal and historical, bringing the reader close to the life and workings of an extraordinary and controversial man. Filled with revealing insights and details that set the historical record straight, Oppenheimer is that rare quantity: a vastly entertaining study of one of the most important and enigmatic scientists of the atomic age.

A curation of essays penned by Jeremy Bernstein, this book is a treasure trove of personal stories ranging from Bernstein's expedition to Mount Everest, cherished encounters with the fathers of Quantum Mechanics (Werner Heisenberg, Paul Dirac and Erwin Schrodinger), to a jovial collaboration with Freeman Dyson on the Orion spaceship project.This essay collection is a door into several pieces of scientific explorations as well as the celebrated life of Jeremy Bernstein, a physicist, professor and phenomenal writer. Readers will enjoy this book as both an autobiography and a popular science reading.

A curation of essays penned by Jeremy Bernstein, this book is a treasure trove of personal stories ranging from Bernstein's expedition to Mount Everest, cherished encounters with the fathers of Quantum Mechanics (Werner Heisenberg, Paul Dirac and Erwin Schrodinger), to a jovial collaboration with Freeman Dyson on the Orion spaceship project.This essay collection is a door into several pieces of scientific explorations as well as the celebrated life of Jeremy Bernstein, a physicist, professor and phenomenal writer. Readers will enjoy this book as both an autobiography and a popular science reading.

A Song for Molly is both a love story and a poetic homage to science. The subjects in this first-person novella range from encounters with Wittgenstein, Einstein and Goedel, to trying to live with a dog named Molly. The science is serious although the tone is whimsical. The spirit of this book can be demonstrated by a conversation between Einstein and his assistant Ernst Straus:' 'You know Goedel has really gone crazy.' So I said, 'Well, what worse could he have done?' 'He voted for Eisenhower.' '

A Song for Molly is both a love story and a poetic homage to science. The subjects in this first-person novella range from encounters with Wittgenstein, Einstein and Gödel, to trying to live with a dog named Molly. The science is serious although the tone is whimsical. The spirit of this book can be demonstrated by a conversation between Einstein and his assistant Ernst Straus:' 'You know Gödel has really gone crazy.' So I said, 'Well, what worse could he have done?' 'He voted for Eisenhower.' '

What was Albert Einstein like as a person? How did J. Robert Oppenheimer's religious background impact his scientific endeavors? Why did John Stewart Bell get into physics in the first place? Prolific science writer Jeremy Bernstein has followed up on his original Quantum Profiles, published in 1990, with seven added profiles: Wendell Furry, Philipp Frank, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Victor Weisskopf, Tom Lehrer, Max Jammer, and Robert Serber. The profiles on John Stewart Bell, John Wheeler, and Albert Einstein from the first edition have been revised and expanded, as well. Bernstein presents each profile carefully, and the context provided in these historical profiles is revolutionary in each approach. Bernstein's unique academic and social background allows readers to fully grasp the character profiles in each chapter. With a conversational writing style, Bernstein lets readers get to know these ten prolific physicists-from personalities to historical and scientific significance-in a whole new way.

In the early years of its conception, J Robert Oppenheimer spoke of quantum theory as a subject that was 'unlikely to be known to any poet or historian.' Yet, as Bernstein notes, in just sixty-odd years, one can find at least nine million entries on Google under the rubric 'quantum theory' — from poets and historians, as well as film critics and Buddhist monks. How did quantum mechanics enter general culture so pervasively?Having studied the subject for over a half-century, Jeremy Bernstein returns in this second edition to enlighten readers with a witty insider's perspective on the development of quantum theory as well as its loopholes. It is also a scintillating account of the interplay between brilliance and fallibility in humankind, even in the key figures who have shaped common understanding of quantum theory — such eminent figures include Niels Bohr, the Dalai Lama, Tom Stoppard, and most notably, John Bell who made pioneering contributions in quantum physics.At once thought-provoking and intellectual, this semi-autobiographical popular science book is highly recommended for readers with rudimentary knowledge of science history, philosophy, and naturally, physics.

In the early years of its conception, J Robert Oppenheimer spoke of quantum theory as a subject that was 'unlikely to be known to any poet or historian.' Yet, as Bernstein notes, in just sixty-odd years, one can find at least nine million entries on Google under the rubric 'quantum theory' — from poets and historians, as well as film critics and Buddhist monks. How did quantum mechanics enter general culture so pervasively?Having studied the subject for over a half-century, Jeremy Bernstein returns in this second edition to enlighten readers with a witty insider's perspective on the development of quantum theory as well as its loopholes. It is also a scintillating account of the interplay between brilliance and fallibility in humankind, even in the key figures who have shaped common understanding of quantum theory — such eminent figures include Niels Bohr, the Dalai Lama, Tom Stoppard, and most notably, John Bell who made pioneering contributions in quantum physics.At once thought-provoking and intellectual, this semi-autobiographical popular science book is highly recommended for readers with rudimentary knowledge of science history, philosophy, and naturally, physics.

My friendship with Freeman Dyson goes back over a half century. My first contact with him goes back to the late 1950s, when I was at the Institute for Advanced Study, and then evolved when I was a consultant at General Atomics in La Jolla, California. Freeman was then trying to design a space ship — the Orion — which would be propelled by atomic bombs. When I left the Institute, Freeman and I continued our correspondence and I saved his letters. They are written in an almost calligraphically elegant handwriting. It is hard to see how you could make a mistake in a mathematical computation if you wrote that clearly. The letters show his human side and his enormous range of knowledge. There are then two essays involving the physicist Fritz Houtermans who was an extraordinarily colorful character. There is a brief essay on Einstein's collaboration with a fraud. There is even an essay on the Titius-Bode law and the new exo-planets. Because of my enduring interest in nuclear weapons, the reader will find essays devoted to that. There is also a bit of fiction at the end.

One Physicist’s Guide to Nuclear Weapons presents a truly global look at the history, use, and issues surrounding nuclear weapons from the perspective of physicist and writer Jeremy Bernstein. A first-hand witness to the development and science of nuclear weapons, he is in a unique position to highlight the ways in which nuclear weapons work with a writing style that is suitable for lay readers and scientists alike. Bernstein brings the reader on a journey from the Nevada nuclear-testing fields in the 1950s to the present day situations in Iran and North Korea, while delving into the physics and science behind the bomb. With an introduction by Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, this book is a testament to the last 70 years of the nuclear age, affecting every human being on the planet.

Beginning on the 18th of March, 1905,at approximately eight week intervals, the noted German physics journal Annalen der Physik received three hand-written manuscripts from a relatively unknown patent examiner in Bern. The patent examiner was the twenty-six year old Albert Einstein and the three papers would set the agenda for twentieth century physics. A fourth short paper was received by the journal on the 27th of September. It contained Einstein's derivation of the formula E=mc2. These papers with their many technological ramifications changed our lives in the twentieth century and beyond. While to a professional physicist the mathematics in these papers is quite straight forward, the ideas behind the mathematics are not. In fact, none of Einstein's contemporaries fully understood what he had done. The goal of this book is to make these ideas accessible to a general reader with no more mathematics than one learns in high school. PRAISE FOR BOOK: "With wonderfully chosen digressions and some sophisticated physics plus the minimum amount of math to support it, Jeremy Bernstein has produced a charming account of Einstein’s epoch-making papers of 1905. Here is surely the thinking person’s guide to Einstein’s ‘Miracle Year." —Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Author, The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus "Why are physicists celebrating the centenary of Einstein’s miracle year? In this gem of a book—and in simple words—Bernstein explains how young Albert, in that one year, set the foundation to a century of progress in physics." —Sheldon L. Glashow, Winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize inPhysics, Professor, Boston University

Iran’s nuclear program has generated intense controversy ever since the International Atomic Energy Agency reported in 2003 that Iran was secretly pursuing enrichment activities. Although Iranian officials insist the program is peaceful, many in the international community are skeptical of Iran’s stated aims—and some allege there is no greater nuclear-weapons proliferation danger in the world today.Nuclear Iran guides readers through the intricate maze of science and secrecy that lies at the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Writing for the general reader, Jeremy Bernstein brings his knowledge as a physicist to bear on the issues, offering elucidations of the scientific principles and technical hurdles involved in creating nuclear reactors and bombs. His explanations range from the physics of fission to methods of isotope separation to the technologies required for weaponizing fissile uranium and plutonium. Iran’s construction of centrifuges capable of producing weapons-grade uranium has received much media attention, and Bernstein explains how these complex devices work. He intersperses many elements of the human story into his discussions of technology, such as the fact that centrifuges were first invented by German war prisoners working in the Soviet Union.Nuclear Iran turns a spotlight on the controversial underground uranium-enrichment facility in Natanz and heavy water reactor in Arak, and profiles key figures in the ongoing international trade in weapons technology, including the Pakistani physicist A. Q. Khan. This succinct book is timely reading for anyone who wishes to understand the science behind the international crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

This book of essays in four parts, was written over a decade and full of surprises for the breadth and variety of its subject matter. The first part is about the foundations of the quantum theory which reflects the author's many conversations with the late John Bell who persuaded him that there is still no satisfactory interpretation of the theory. The second part deals with nuclear weapons. One of the essays concerns the creation of the modern gas centrifuge which was done by German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union. The proliferation of these centrifuges was one of the issues in the spread of nuclear weapons. The third section deals with financial engineering with a profile of Louis Bachelier, the French mathematician who created it at the beginning of the 20th century. The final section deals with the Higgs boson and how it is used for generating mass. It includes a detailed article of how this mechanism works.