Gerald Feinberg(27 May 1933 – 21 April 1992) was aColumbia Universityphysicist,futuristand popular science author. He spent a year as a Member of theInstitute for Advanced Study,and two years at theBrookhaven Laboratories.[1]Feinberg went toBronx High School of SciencewithSteven WeinbergandSheldon Glashowand obtained his bachelor's and graduate degrees fromColumbia University.[2][3]His father was Yiddish poet and journalistLeon Feinberg.[4]Among his students wereScott Dodelson,physicist atCarnegie Mellon University.
Gerald Feinberg | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 27, 1933 |
| Died | April 21, 1992(aged 58) New York City |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Particle physics |
| Institutions | Columbia University |
| Thesis | Meson Production in Nucleon-Nucleon Collisions(1957) |
| Doctoral advisor | Tsung-Dao Lee |
| Doctoral students | Scott Dodelson |
Research
editHe coined the termtachyonfor hypotheticalfaster-than-lightparticles and analysed theirquantum fieldproperties,[5]predicted the existence of themuon neutrino[6]and advocatedcryonicsas a public service.[7]He was a member of theForesight Institute's advisory panel.[8]
Parapsychology
editFeinberg wrote a foreword toEdgar Mitchell's bookPsychic Explorations(1974) in which he endorsedpsychic phenomena.His concept of a tachyon, a theoretical particle that travels faster than the speed of light has been advocated by some parapsychologists who claim that it could explainprecognitionorpsychokinesis.However, there is no scientific evidence tachyon particles exist and such paranormal claims have been described as pseudoscientific.[9][10]
Publications
editBooks
- Cosmological Constants(with co-editorJeremy Bernstein,1986).ISBN978-0-231-06376-0
- Solid Clues: Quantum Physics, Molecular Biology, and the Future of Science,Simon & Schuster, 1985.ISBN0-434-26200-5
- Life Beyond Earth: The Intelligent Earthling's Guide to Extraterrestrial Life(withRobert Shapiro), Morrow, 1980.ISBN0-688-08642-X
- What is the world made of?: Atoms, leptons, quarks, and other tantalizing particles,Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1977.ISBN0-385-07694-0&ISBN0-385-07693-2
- Consequences of Growth: The Prospects for a Limitless Future,Seabury Press, New York, 1977.ISBN0-8164-9326-XReview
- The Prometheus Project, Mankind's Search for Long-Range Goals,Anchor Books, 1969.ISBN0-385-03613-2
Papers
- G. Feinberg, Shaughan Lavine,D.Z. Albert(1992). "Knowledge of the Past and Future".Journal of Philosophy.89(12): 607–642.doi:10.2307/2940898.JSTOR2940898.
{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - G. Feinberg; D.Z. Albert; S. Lavine (1989). "Two types of prediction in Newtonian and quantum mechanics".Physics Letters A.138(9): 454–458.Bibcode:1989PhLA..138..454F.doi:10.1016/0375-9601(89)90743-3.
- G. Feinberg (1967). "Possibility of Faster-Than-Light Particles".Physical Review.159(5): 1089–1105.Bibcode:1967PhRv..159.1089F.doi:10.1103/PhysRev.159.1089.
- G. Feinberg (1966). "Physics and Life Prolongation".Physics Today.19(11): 45–48.Bibcode:1966PhT....19k..45F.doi:10.1063/1.3047814.
- G. Feinberg (1966). "Physics and the Thales Problem".Journal of Philosophy.63(1): 5–16.doi:10.2307/2024523.JSTOR2024523.
References
edit- ^"Gerald Feinberg, 58, Physicist; Taught at Columbia University".Retrieved 2015-03-28.
- ^The Second Creation, Crease & Mann, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1986
- ^Columbia College (Columbia University). Office of Alumni Affairs and Development; Columbia College (Columbia University) (1988).Columbia College today.Columbia University Libraries. New York, N.Y.: Columbia College, Office of Alumni Affairs and Development.
- ^"Leon Feinberg, 71, Yiddish Journalist"(PDF).The New York Times.Vol. CXVIII, no. 40542. New York, N.Y. 23 January 1969. p. 27.
- ^ G. Feinberg (1967). "Possibility of Faster-Than-Light Particles".Physical Review.159(5): 1089–1105.Bibcode:1967PhRv..159.1089F.doi:10.1103/PhysRev.159.1089.
- ^ M. Schwartz (1992).Nobel Lectures.World Scientific.p. 469.
- ^ G. Feinberg (1966). "Physics and Life Prolongation".Physics Today.19(11): 45–48.Bibcode:1966PhT....19k..45F.doi:10.1063/1.3047814.
- ^D. Shafer (1990)."Feinberg Anxious for Policy Discussions".Foresight Update.9:1. Archived fromthe originalon 2019-10-23.Retrieved2007-04-23.
- ^Rothman, Milton(September 1994)."Tachyons and Other Nonentities".Skeptical Inquirer.4(3).Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.Retrieved2014-03-16.
- ^Carroll, Robert Todd.(2003).The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions.Wiley. pp. 370-371.ISBN0-471-27242-6