- 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) Hungarian Geniuses in America
B) The Manhattan Project Pioneers
C) Scientists Who Escaped Nazi Germany
D) Five Physicists Who Changed the Twentieth Century
- 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) John von Neumann
B) Eugene Wigner
C) Leo Szilard
D) Theodore von Kármán
- 4. Who among The Martians is considered the father of the hydrogen bomb?
A) John von Neumann
B) Eugene Wigner
C) Edward Teller
D) Leo Szilard
- 5. Which Martian conceived the nuclear chain reaction and helped initiate the Manhattan Project?
A) Eugene Wigner
B) Leo Szilard
C) Edward Teller
D) John von Neumann
- 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) Leo Szilard
C) Edward Teller
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 developed more powerful nuclear weapons
D) He became an advocate for nuclear disarmament
- 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) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
D) Bell Laboratories
- 10. What was John von Neumann's most famous contribution to computer architecture?
A) Von Neumann architecture
B) Binary system
C) Turing machine
D) Boolean algebra
- 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) Kármán vortex street
B) Bernoulli's principle
C) Prandtl's boundary layer
D) Reynolds number
- 13. What organization did Leo Szilard help establish to control nuclear weapons?
A) Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
B) Federation of American Scientists
C) Council for a Livable World
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) Behavioral economics
D) Keynesian economics
- 15. What was Eugene Wigner's famous statement about mathematics?
A) The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences
B) Mathematics reveals cosmic truth
C) All mathematics is applied mathematics
D) Mathematics is the language of nature
- 16. What nickname was given to these Hungarian scientists?
A) The Danube Scholars
B) The Hungarian Geniuses
C) The Martians
D) The Budapest Circle
- 17. What field was Theodore von Kármán most associated with?
A) Mathematics
B) Nuclear physics
C) Chemistry
D) Aerospace engineering
- 18. What was Edward Teller's political stance during the Cold War?
A) Neutral pacifist
B) Socialist
C) Strong anti-communist
D) Anti-nuclear activist
- 19. What common language did the Martians speak among themselves?
A) French
B) English
C) German
D) Hungarian
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