1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 305: I can't compare to Bruce in physics, but I can definitely surpass him in writing novels
After leaving the Cavendish Laboratory, Eddington was in a good mood and in high spirits.

He made the right decision this time.

Not only did he establish a relationship with Professor Thomson, but he also learned such important and secret news from him.

This is the role of connections.

He can know the most cutting-edge research earlier than others.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Eddington laughed out loud.

Cambridge University is simply his blessed place.

He had made up his mind to remain professor of astronomy at Cambridge University.

If general relativity really has something to do with astronomy.

Then who can compare to him.

It’s like after Li Qiwei proposed the concept of gene mutation, only relevant people can verify it.

And now, when it comes to astronomical achievements, Eddington is no less than anyone else.

When Millikan proved the photoelectric effect through experiments, he became famous overnight.

Eddington felt that he had such an opportunity.

His knowledge of astronomy may have played an important role in the theory of relativity.

From now on, he just needs to wait quietly and lie dormant.

Work hard secretly and then surprise everyone.

"Bruce, I'm waiting for you!"

Potsdam Astrophysical Observatory, Germany.

This place is very close to Berlin and is a suburban area.

Schwarzschild, 39 years old this year, is the head of the observatory.

Since he last met Laue at the German Physicists' Conference, he was often invited by Laue to attend his private parties.

It turned out that Laue fell in love with Schwarzschild's celestial maps at first sight.

He thought it was very beautiful.

After learning more about him later, Laue realized that the other person was indeed very capable.

Schwarzschild was a professor in his early years, and he was a colleague of Hilbert and Minkowski at that time.

It is said that the relationship is also very good.

Later, perhaps he got tired of school life, so he changed his career and worked at an observatory.

Excellent people will shine wherever they go.

Even after Schwarzschild switched to astronomy, he still made some achievements.

He studied light-sensitive materials for taking clearer astronomical photographs.

Just this year he was elected a member of the German Academy of Sciences.

It can be said that he has entered the elite circle of the German scientific community.

Moreover, Schwarzschild received his doctorate from the University of Munich, so he and Laue were alumni.

Therefore, Laue liked Schwarzschild more.

Laue really likes to discuss problems with his friends.

Everyone can speak freely without worrying about being laughed at for their wild ideas.

And they only discuss the most cutting-edge physics.

In Laue's words: Only the most difficult problems can inspire the strongest imagination.

And to see how important imagination is, just look at Bruce.

The conclusions of people's predictions are more terrifying than each other.

Laue never imagined that physics would one day become a test of who is braver.

And today, it was Schwarzschild who invited Laue and others to visit the astronomical observatory.

Because in a while, Laue will go to Switzerland to become a professor of physics.

I probably won't be returning to Germany anytime soon.

So, this can be considered a farewell party prepared by several people for Laue.

In front of the huge telescope, Laue turned the lens with interest.

"Wow, is this the surface of the moon? Why does it look so bumpy?"

“I don’t know if there’s anyone up there.”

Schwarzschild smiled and said: "The craters on the moon's surface are all caused by meteorites and fragments from the universe."

"If there were no moon, the Earth would have been riddled with holes by various extraterrestrial objects."

Ewald next to him suddenly sighed:

"Since Galileo first used a telescope to observe the moon more than 300 years ago, people have been exploring the universe more and more deeply."

"We have more advanced telescopes now, but we still know very little about celestial objects."

"Do you think that one day in the future, it will be possible for humans to land on the moon and see with their own eyes what the lunar surface looks like?"

“Are there so-called moon people?”

When several people heard what Ewald said, they all found it very interesting and couldn't help but let their imagination run wild.

Knipping smiled and said, “I think the possibility is too small.”

"If you want to fly to the moon, you have to at least exceed the first cosmic speed."

"That's 7.9 kilometers per second."

"With such a high speed, I don't know what kind of engine can have such great propulsion."

"Airplanes have only been invented for a few years. It is said that the accident rate is very high, and the flying altitude is also very low."

"Not to mention the vacuum of the lunar surface."

Friedrich had a different opinion.

“I think it’s still possible to land on the moon.”

"It has only been more than 150 years since the first industrial revolution."

"But humanity is more productive than the previous 5000 years combined."

“I once saw an interesting statistic.”

“It is said that the total amount of materials produced during the first and second industrial revolutions exceeded the total of all previous times.”

“What an exaggerated statistic.”

“Perhaps in another 200 years, humans will be able to solve the power problem and send living people to the moon.”

“So, I am still quite confident.”

Friedrich's words were refreshing to everyone.

Especially the data he shared made everyone marvel at the greatness of mankind and science.

It is the power of science that has enabled humans to go from eating raw meat and drinking blood in primitive times to being able to fly into the sky and into the earth today.

Without science, humans will never be able to get rid of their animal attributes.

At this time, Laue suddenly smiled and joked: "I am also very confident."

"Because we have the world's number one inventor."

"That's Bruce."

"Don't worry, Bruce will be able to solve the moon landing problem sooner or later."

Everyone laughed.

Although everyone knew that Laue was joking, everyone still found it very interesting.

Ever since Ridgway severely suppressed Edison with the zinc-manganese battery.

The title of the first inventor was given to him.

Of course, this was just ordinary people shouting and yelling.

Li Qiwei himself didn't admit it at all and didn't bother to care.

Because when this thing was invented, there was no way to evaluate who was more important.

It is impossible to tell who is more talented, the person who invented the television or the person who invented the refrigerator.

But Ridgwell, who proposed the theory of relativity and quantum theory, must be more powerful than Wilson, who invented the cloud chamber.

This is the difference.

Then, Lauer continued, "By the way, it is said that Bruce has been in seclusion recently."

"It seems that the general theory of relativity is about to be published."

"I'm really looking forward to it."

"What kind of theory could make the famous Bruce spend ten years studying it?"

Schwarzschild also said with emotion: "I am actually very interested in Professor Bruce's theory of relativity."

Everyone heard what he said and felt that there was something else behind it, so they waited for his next words.

"I have been studying astronomy for a while, and lately I have been feeling more and more constrained."

"That is, astronomy has no theory of its own."

"For example."

"Before the Bohr-Lee model came out, the study of atomic structure was chaotic." "Everyone can come up with a model for how electrons move outside the nucleus."

"When Professor Bruce proposed the planetary model, many people were able to find its limitations."

“But it was useless because the other dozen or so models also had their own problems.”

"The fundamental reason is the lack of a theoretical support."

"Just like with Newton's laws of mechanics, we can study the movement of objects."

"While the law of gravity can guide astronomy, it is not enough."

"It's not just that it can't explain the precession of Mercury's perihelion, it has other limitations."

"The universe is so vast and mysterious. There are even more stars in the sky than grains of sand on Earth."

"I don't think real astronomical science can be born just by relying on astronomers' induction and conclusions."

"Astronomy should also be able to make predictions like theoretical physics."

"For example, if I have a theory, I can predict that this type of celestial body should exist based on this theory."

“Then we can find it through experimentation.”

“This is what I think astronomy is.”

"Otherwise, it would make more sense to be astroinduction."

hiss!
Schwarzschild's words made Laue and the other three gasp.

Is this the boss's imagination?

It is true that gold shines wherever it is.

Even though astronomy is at the bottom of the contempt chain of natural sciences, Schwarzschild managed to come up with a breakthrough.

Although it was just a thought, no one present was in the mood to joke.

Some are just in awe and admiration.

This is a truly top scientist.

He was not thinking about a certain point, but the problem of the entire discipline system.

In fact, it is not just astronomy, biology and medicine are also similar.

Chemistry is a little better, and can rely on physics. Chemists live a very comfortable life.

Physicists have invented good tools, so just use them.

Laue has a deep understanding of this.

But Schwarzschild not only saw this, he also provided a feasible direction.

Based on theory, find out the new and strange celestial bodies in the universe.

This kind of wild imagination is the core driving force behind Laue's organization of the meeting.

He left the telescope and said excitedly:

"Schwarzschild, your analysis is really brilliant."

“Perhaps this is the real charm of astronomy.”

"As Ewald said, Galileo was able to observe the moon hundreds of years ago."

"Newton was also able to calculate the orbits of celestial bodies."

"What we modern physicists have to do is definitely not to repeat their old path."

“Even if it means observing more celestial bodies and calculating more orbits.”

"In essence, there is no real progress, and we are still living off our past achievements."

"What we should do is to innovate and control celestial bodies just like we control atoms."

Wow!
Laue's words shocked everyone.

Schwarzschild felt the taste of a close friend.

He worked at the observatory and few could keep up with his thinking.

Sometimes he feels that his music is too highbrow for most people.

But he had fallen deeply in love with astronomy and was unwilling to give it up and turn to studying physics.

And today, someone finally understands his thoughts.

“Wow, this is another time to test your imagination,” Erwald exclaimed.

"I guess there must be a celestial body in the universe that has super high density."

"Perhaps a palm-sized piece of matter on that planet is even heavier than the entire Earth."

Wow!
Ewald's guess made everyone laugh.

Knipping smiled and said, "Ewald, I admire no one but you."

“You should write science fiction.”

"I heard that Professor Bruce is writing a science fiction novel with a very grand setting."

"You may not be as good as Professor Bruce in physics, but maybe you can surpass him in writing novels."

"Then you can become famous all over the world."

"For example, I think the celestial bodies you imagine are very powerful."

Everyone cheered and encouraged Ewald to write a novel as well.

It’s bad enough that people don’t believe that Bruce is so unrivaled in the field of physics, but do they think he can surpass everyone in writing novels?

Novels have nothing to do with physical intuition or anything like that.

Some people, even if they have stories in their minds, are still disgusting when they write them down.

At this time, Laue suddenly added:
"By the way, the American boy that Bruce is coaching is called Hubble."

"Isn't he studying astronomy?"

"I'm curious, what is he, a student of astronomy, going to Bruce to learn?"

"Is Bruce planning to go into astronomy?"

“That’s too much.”

"He has just solved the problem of atoms in the microscopic realm, and now he has turned his attention to celestial bodies in the macroscopic realm."

"I really don't know how Professor Bruce thinks about the problem."

Schwarzschild smiled and said, “I may know a little about this.”

"Hubble recently published several articles on astronomy."

"The corresponding author is Bruce, and he obviously received guidance from him."

"I don't know if you still remember that Professor Bruce vaguely mentioned it at the meeting."

"The two pillars of modern physics, quantum theory studies the microscopic field, and relativity studies the macroscopic field."

"Perhaps general relativity involves the problem of large celestial bodies."

"Bruce once said in a speech at Princeton University in the United States that his general theory of relativity can explain the precession of Mercury's perihelion."

“I think this might be a hint.”

“Perhaps that is why Hubble is willing to study and research with Bruce.”

boom!
Laue and others were all shocked.

Bruce wouldn't really be going into astronomy, would he?

That was definitely an astronomical superquake.

I guess all astronomers will be very happy.

Schwarzschild was also very excited.

He raised his head and looked at the distant sky through the window in front of the telescope.

"Bruce, what kind of surprise will you bring?"

There was a hint of a smile on Schwarzschild's lips.

In real history, Schwarzschild was the first person to calculate the exact solution to the field equations of general relativity.

That solution is also called the Schwarzschild solution.

The greatest significance of this solution is that it predicts the existence of black holes.

Einstein gave the equation, but he himself could not find the exact solution.

By solving the equations, Schwarzschild discovered the existence of objects such as black holes, which were called "incredible celestial bodies" at the time.

In 1969, American physicist Wheeler first formally proposed the term "black hole".

Moreover, Schwarzschild tore the solution by hand while in the trenches during World War I, taking advantage of a truce between the two armies.

The letters he sent to Einstein were stained with blood.

There is no reason to explain Schwarzschild's behavior except his pure love of science.

He eventually died in 1916 due to illness contracted during the war.

It’s a pity that I didn’t have the chance to see the impact my solution brought to astronomy.

At his funeral, Einstein mourned:

“He loved exploring the connections between things in nature.”

"What led him to seek the unknown was happiness, the joy felt by an artist, and the imagination of a dreamer who cares about the future."

(End of this chapter)