5 interesting facts that prove that great scientists are people too

1. Isaac Newton was a bad teacher

In 1669, 26-year-old Isaac Newton received P. Ackroyd. Isaac Newton: biography an honorary position as Lucasian professor of mathematics at his alma mater, Trinity College, University of Cambridge. From that moment on, the scientist had to give lectures at least once a week on a topic of his choice, as well as help the students who turned to him.

That's just Newton believedA. Storr. Isaac Newton / The BMJ teaching empty waste time and certainly was not a born lecturer. The physicist conducted classes in a boring manner, explained confusedly and without enthusiasm. As a result, they attended his lecturesTwo letters from Humphrey Newton to John Conduitt / The Newton Project at best 3-4 students.

It should be noted that attendance at university studies, as well as the diligence and discipline of students, were generally low at that time. Nevertheless, Newton's lectures were particularly unpopular. So, they remembered about their studies with the great physicist - a fact that can be proud of -R. S. Westfall. The Life of Isaac Newton only three students. And it was during the nearly 30 years that Newton taught at Cambridge.

However, the scientist himself did not seem to care much. He received P. Ackroyd. Isaac Newton: biography a well-paid position and a lot of free time to do science.

2. Nikolai Lobachevsky in his youth did not differ in exemplary behavior

The future creator of non-Euclidean geometry always studied well, but did not like to observe disciplineV. F. Kagan. Lobachevsky.

After the gymnasium, in which even letters to relatives were allowed to write only under the supervision of supervisors, Lobachevsky was able to enjoy his university freedom in Kazan. During his studies, the name of the mathematician was mentioned 33 times in a special journal (conduit), where the misconduct of students was recorded.

Although mostly Lobachevsky swore with teachers and violated discipline, sometimes he committed extravagant antics. So, the students said that Lobachevsky jumped over the obese professor Nikolsky on a bet. The young man allegedly seized the right moment when the teacher slowly descended the stairs.

In 1808, Lobachevsky and a friend launched a rocket in the courtyard of the university. For this act, the negligent student spent three days in a punishment cell, eating bread and water. And in 1810, despite the prohibitions, Lobachevsky went to New Year's carnivals several times.

The mathematician was even accused of atheism, a serious offense at that time. As it was said in the conduit: "To a large extent showed signs of godlessness ..."

Lobachevsky tortured everyone so much that they even wanted to expel him from the university and send him to the army. Fortunately, professors Martin Bartels and Franz Broner stood up for the young rake. As a result, Lobachevsky graduated from Kazan University and stayed to work there: he became a professor and later a rector.

3. Charles Darwin was afraid of the sight of blood

Charles Darwin's father Robert wasCh. R. Darwin. Autobiography a practicing physician, but could not tolerate the sight of blood. This feature was passed on to Charles himself.

Although Darwin Sr. did not particularly like his profession, he made a lot of money on this business. And so he decided to send his two sons, Erasmus and Charles, to study at the medical faculty. If the first one could even get a diploma, then the second one dropped everything. Just looking at the blood and mutilation made Charles feel sick.

Great naturalist did not overcome this fear, although later he believedThe Autobiography of Charles Darwinthat over time he could overcome disgust, and knowledge in anatomy would be useful to him in scientific works.

4. Albert Einstein donated all Nobel money to his wife and children as alimony

The creator of the theory of relativity was married twice. Back in his student years, he metA. Finkbeiner. The debated legacy of Einstein's first wife / Nature with Mileva Maric, a classmate at the Swiss Polytechnic Institute, who was not inferior to Einstein in knowledge and abilities.

Unfortunately, while Albert was conquering the physical Olympus, Mileva faced many setbacks. She never received her degree or diploma, gave birth to an illegitimate daughter whose fate is unknown, and resigned herself to the role of a housewife when she and Einstein were finally married in 1903.

Already in 1912, Albert began an affair with his cousin and future second wife Elsa Leventhal (nee Einstein). The physicist's marriage began to disintegrate: since 1914, the couple did not live together, and Einstein only sent money to his wife and sons.

During the divorce, Mileva put forwardP. Gagnon. The Forgotten Life of Einstein's First Wife / Scientific American condition: Einstein must donate the money he will receive with the Nobel Prize to the needs of the children. Such are the unusual alimony. Former spouses even signed a special contract. When Einstein received the award in 1921, he fulfilled his obligation.

Some researchers even believe that such a strange requirement was not accidental. They speculate that Einstein and Maric worked together and wrote articles. In confirmation, the words of familiar physicists and the results of linguistic analysis are cited, but there is no direct evidence of such a creative union.

5. The Bor brothers were fond of football

The interests of the Danish physicist and Nobel laureate Niels Bohr extended far beyond science. For example, he was partial to football and even playedHistorien om Akademisk Boldklub / Akademisk Boldklub a season as a goalkeeper for Akademisk Boldklub - one of the oldest and strongest clubs in Denmark at the time. TellJ. Dart. National service for footballers / The Guardian even, as during one of the matches, Niels thought deeply about some task and missed a long-range shot.

Niels's younger brother, the famous mathematician Harald, also played for Akademisk and achieved great success. He hitHarald August Bohr / Olympics.com to the Danish national team and became a silver medalist of the 1908 London Olympics. In the final, the Danes lost to the ancestors of football - the British.