- 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) Scientists Who Escaped Nazi Germany
B) The Manhattan Project Pioneers
C) Five Physicists Who Changed the Twentieth Century
D) Hungarian Geniuses in America
- 2. Which five Hungarian-born scientists are featured in 'The Martians of Science'?
A) Theodore von Kármán, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, John von Neumann, Edward Teller
B) Nikola Tesla, Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, Marie Curie, Ernest Rutherford
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) Eugene Wigner
C) Leo Szilard
D) John von Neumann
- 4. Who among The Martians is considered the father of the hydrogen bomb?
A) Eugene Wigner
B) John von Neumann
C) Leo Szilard
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) Eugene Wigner
D) Leo Szilard
- 6. Who developed game theory and made fundamental contributions to computer science?
A) Eugene Wigner
B) Theodore von Kármán
C) John von Neumann
D) Edward Teller
- 7. Which Martian won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for contributions to nuclear physics?
A) John von Neumann
B) Edward Teller
C) Leo Szilard
D) Eugene Wigner
- 8. What was Leo Szilard's role after World War II regarding nuclear weapons?
A) He worked on nuclear power plants
B) He joined the Soviet nuclear program
C) He became an advocate for nuclear disarmament
D) He developed more powerful nuclear weapons
- 9. Which institution did Theodore von Kármán help establish that became crucial for American aerospace research?
A) Bell Laboratories
B) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
C) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
D) Los Alamos National Laboratory
- 10. What was John von Neumann's most famous contribution to computer architecture?
A) Boolean algebra
B) Von Neumann architecture
C) Turing machine
D) Binary system
- 11. What was Eugene Wigner's famous contribution to quantum mechanics?
A) Schrödinger equation
B) Pauli exclusion principle
C) Wigner's theorem and work on symmetry principles
D) Heisenberg uncertainty principle
- 12. What was Theodore von Kármán's most famous aerodynamic discovery?
A) Bernoulli's principle
B) Kármán vortex street
C) Reynolds number
D) Prandtl's boundary layer
- 13. What organization did Leo Szilard help establish to control nuclear weapons?
A) Council for a Livable World
B) Federation of American Scientists
C) Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
D) Union of Concerned Scientists
- 14. What was John von Neumann's contribution to economics?
A) Monetarism
B) Game theory and general equilibrium theory
C) Keynesian economics
D) Behavioral economics
- 15. What was Eugene Wigner's famous statement about mathematics?
A) Mathematics reveals cosmic truth
B) The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences
C) All mathematics is applied mathematics
D) Mathematics is the language of nature
- 16. What nickname was given to these Hungarian scientists?
A) The Hungarian Geniuses
B) The Martians
C) The Danube Scholars
D) The Budapest Circle
- 17. What field was Theodore von Kármán most associated with?
A) Nuclear physics
B) Chemistry
C) Mathematics
D) Aerospace engineering
- 18. What was Edward Teller's political stance during the Cold War?
A) Neutral pacifist
B) Anti-nuclear activist
C) Strong anti-communist
D) Socialist
- 19. What common language did the Martians speak among themselves?
A) French
B) German
C) English
D) Hungarian
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