Richard Feynman (1918-1988) was one of the most brilliant and accomplished physicists of the 20th century, whose books, lectures, sense of humor and outlook on life also made him one of the best known scientists in the world.
Aside from his groundbreaking work in quantum electrodynamics, superfluidity, and particle physics, Feynman worked on the Manhattan Project, won the Nobel Prize in Physics (1964), served on the panel that investigated the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, taught, invented the Feynman diagram — and on, and on., Oh, and he was also a pioneer in quantum computing and nanotechnology.
This week’s Movie isn’t so much about that Richard Feynman, but the bongo-playing Feynman with the sparkle in his eye, whose childlike sense of wonder, endless curiosity and unbridled enthusiasm motivated him.
In the 1970s, Feynman and his longtime friend and drumming partner, Ralph Leighton, developed an interest in the tiny, formerly independent Asian nation of Tanna Tuva — based in no small part on the fact that it’s capital city, Kyzyl, had no vowels. From Leighton’s book, “Tuva or Bust:”
“Look at this,” remarked Richard. “The capital is spelled K-Y-Z-Y-L.”
“That’s crazy,” I said. ”There’s not a legitimate vowel anywhere!”
“We must go there,” said Gweneth (Feynman’s wife).
“Yeah!” exclaimed Richard. ”A place that’s spelled K-Y-Z-Y-L has just got to be interesting!”
Thus began a wonderful, decade-long adventure — not going to Tuva, but trying to get to Tuva.
Silly, inspiring and just plain fun, this may be one of the best movies about science you’ll ever see. And it’s hardly about science at all. It’s about the journey, the adventure, and the joy of exploring new things.
Richard Feynman: The Last Journey Of A Genius [1988]
If you can’t watch the entire, 55-minute movie, be sure to fast-forward to the 34:30 mark and one of the few segments where Feynman talks about physics — in this case the electromagnetic fields bouncing about the room. His description of the eye as a ball with an 1/8″ hole is classic.
Richard Feynman’s Lectures on the The Character of Physical Law
In 2009, Microsoft’s Bill Gates chose a series of 7 lectures Feynman gave at Cornell University in 1964, to use in showcasing the company’s enhanced video platform known as Silverlight. Titled the “Tuva Project,” the series is a tribute to Feyman’s brilliance as well as his enthusiasm for life and spirited adventure.
