- 1. Martians Of Science by Istvan Hargittai is an intriguing exploration of the lives and contributions of scientists who were born and educated in Hungary, a nation often referred to as the 'Martians of Science' due to its disproportionately large number of Nobel laureates and significant scientific achievements relative to its size. In this captivating book, Hargittai delves into the personal stories and professional journeys of these remarkable individuals, highlighting their unique approaches to science, the social and political environments that shaped their careers, and the legacies they left behind. The narrative weaves together biographical anecdotes, scientific insights, and reflections on the broader implications of their work, illustrating how these 'Martians' transcended their humble beginnings to impact the global scientific community profoundly. The book not only serves as a tribute to the brilliance of Hungarian scientists but also as a source of inspiration for future generations, inviting readers to appreciate the intersections of culture, science, and human perseverance in the pursuit of knowledge.
What is the subtitle of 'The Martians of Science' by Istvan Hargittai?
A) The Manhattan Project Pioneers
B) Five Physicists Who Changed the Twentieth Century
C) Scientists Who Escaped Nazi Germany
D) Hungarian Geniuses in America
- 2. Which five Hungarian-born scientists are featured in 'The Martians of Science'?
A) Nikola Tesla, Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, Marie Curie, Ernest Rutherford
B) Theodore von Kármán, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, John von Neumann, Edward Teller
C) Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Enrico Fermi, Robert Oppenheimer, Werner Heisenberg
D) Linus Pauling, Richard Feynman, Murray Gell-Mann, Steven Weinberg, Frank Wilczek
- 3. Which of 'The Martians' was primarily known for his work in aerodynamics and astronautics?
A) Theodore von Kármán
B) Leo Szilard
C) Eugene Wigner
D) John von Neumann
- 4. Who among The Martians is considered the father of the hydrogen bomb?
A) John von Neumann
B) Leo Szilard
C) Eugene Wigner
D) Edward Teller
- 5. Which Martian conceived the nuclear chain reaction and helped initiate the Manhattan Project?
A) John von Neumann
B) Edward Teller
C) Leo Szilard
D) Eugene Wigner
- 6. Who developed game theory and made fundamental contributions to computer science?
A) Theodore von Kármán
B) John von Neumann
C) Eugene Wigner
D) Edward Teller
- 7. Which Martian won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for contributions to nuclear physics?
A) Leo Szilard
B) Eugene Wigner
C) John von Neumann
D) Edward Teller
- 8. What was Leo Szilard's role after World War II regarding nuclear weapons?
A) He became an advocate for nuclear disarmament
B) He joined the Soviet nuclear program
C) He developed more powerful nuclear weapons
D) He worked on nuclear power plants
- 9. Which institution did Theodore von Kármán help establish that became crucial for American aerospace research?
A) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
B) Los Alamos National Laboratory
C) Bell Laboratories
D) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- 10. What was John von Neumann's most famous contribution to computer architecture?
A) Turing machine
B) Boolean algebra
C) Von Neumann architecture
D) Binary system
- 11. What was Eugene Wigner's famous contribution to quantum mechanics?
A) Heisenberg uncertainty principle
B) Schrödinger equation
C) Pauli exclusion principle
D) Wigner's theorem and work on symmetry principles
- 12. What was Theodore von Kármán's most famous aerodynamic discovery?
A) Bernoulli's principle
B) Prandtl's boundary layer
C) Reynolds number
D) Kármán vortex street
- 13. What organization did Leo Szilard help establish to control nuclear weapons?
A) Council for a Livable World
B) Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
C) Union of Concerned Scientists
D) Federation of American Scientists
- 14. What was John von Neumann's contribution to economics?
A) Monetarism
B) Behavioral economics
C) Game theory and general equilibrium theory
D) Keynesian economics
- 15. What was Eugene Wigner's famous statement about mathematics?
A) Mathematics reveals cosmic truth
B) Mathematics is the language of nature
C) The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences
D) All mathematics is applied mathematics
- 16. What nickname was given to these Hungarian scientists?
A) The Danube Scholars
B) The Budapest Circle
C) The Hungarian Geniuses
D) The Martians
- 17. What field was Theodore von Kármán most associated with?
A) Mathematics
B) Aerospace engineering
C) Nuclear physics
D) Chemistry
- 18. What was Edward Teller's political stance during the Cold War?
A) Strong anti-communist
B) Anti-nuclear activist
C) Neutral pacifist
D) Socialist
- 19. What common language did the Martians speak among themselves?
A) German
B) Hungarian
C) English
D) French
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