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'Crackpot' science and hidden genius at physics meeting 'Crackpot' science and hidden genius at physics meeting
(about 3 hours later)
A bit of advice, should this ever come up: be wary of dubious physics theories. They can lead to murder.A bit of advice, should this ever come up: be wary of dubious physics theories. They can lead to murder.
In 1952, Bayard Peakes submitted a 33-page manuscript to a publication of the American Physical Society (APS).In 1952, Bayard Peakes submitted a 33-page manuscript to a publication of the American Physical Society (APS).
Peakes had an unusual idea. He didn't believe electrons existed, and he had what he thought was a good explanation of why.Peakes had an unusual idea. He didn't believe electrons existed, and he had what he thought was a good explanation of why.
But the APS rejected his paper, deeming it "pointless".But the APS rejected his paper, deeming it "pointless".
Evidently, Peakes was fairly upset by this. He bought a gun and travelled to the APS offices in New York in search of the editor who had spurned him.Evidently, Peakes was fairly upset by this. He bought a gun and travelled to the APS offices in New York in search of the editor who had spurned him.
When he found that the editor was not around, he shot the APS' 18-year-old secretary instead.When he found that the editor was not around, he shot the APS' 18-year-old secretary instead.
Peakes had given macabre new meaning to the phrase "dangerous idea", and unwittingly started a practice that continues today.Peakes had given macabre new meaning to the phrase "dangerous idea", and unwittingly started a practice that continues today.
"What we decided was that from then on, any member of the APS could submit an abstract on any subject to any meeting," said Brian Schwartz of the City University of New York, a longtime APS member and former chair of the society's Forum on Physics and Society."What we decided was that from then on, any member of the APS could submit an abstract on any subject to any meeting," said Brian Schwartz of the City University of New York, a longtime APS member and former chair of the society's Forum on Physics and Society.
"In the late 1960s during the height of the Vietnam war, people were submitting the peace symbol. I submitted abstracts about the job problem," he told BBC News."In the late 1960s during the height of the Vietnam war, people were submitting the peace symbol. I submitted abstracts about the job problem," he told BBC News.
And of course, he said, "there were always crackpot submissions."And of course, he said, "there were always crackpot submissions."
'Big questions''Big questions'
Much of physics dances around the really big questions - what is stuff ultimately made of, when did the Universe begin, how will it end, and so on - the kinds of questions that invite theories and speculation from all corners of humanity.Much of physics dances around the really big questions - what is stuff ultimately made of, when did the Universe begin, how will it end, and so on - the kinds of questions that invite theories and speculation from all corners of humanity.
And when someone can couch their pet theory in the language of mathematics, sometimes it can just about pass for physics proper.And when someone can couch their pet theory in the language of mathematics, sometimes it can just about pass for physics proper.
Conference organisers have to thematically group hundreds or even thousands of submissions into sessions containing just a few presentations each.Conference organisers have to thematically group hundreds or even thousands of submissions into sessions containing just a few presentations each.
But how to give voice to the more… let's call them speculative physics submissions, among dozens or hundreds of sessions dedicated to more established science? How to give voice to the more… let's call them speculative physics submissions among them?
Put them in sessions all to themselves.Put them in sessions all to themselves.
"We can't promise you an audience, we can only give you a microphone and a room. And I think that's important," said Virginia Trimble of the University of California Irvine, who has held positions within the APS for decades."We can't promise you an audience, we can only give you a microphone and a room. And I think that's important," said Virginia Trimble of the University of California Irvine, who has held positions within the APS for decades.
"I'm a great believer that this is a valuable policy, and I quite often volunteer to chair the sessions of that kind," she told BBC News."I'm a great believer that this is a valuable policy, and I quite often volunteer to chair the sessions of that kind," she told BBC News.
"That kind": the sessions have titles and timings that change from year to year, so that it's not always obvious to the contributors just what kind of session they're presenting to."That kind": the sessions have titles and timings that change from year to year, so that it's not always obvious to the contributors just what kind of session they're presenting to.
"Sometimes crackpots regard each other as crackpots, and are annoyed at being placed in that session," said a chairperson of one such session at this year's April meeting - who should probably remain nameless."Sometimes crackpots regard each other as crackpots, and are annoyed at being placed in that session," said a chairperson of one such session at this year's April meeting - who should probably remain nameless.
But physics - some of the really tricky stuff - can be so mathematically dense that even the organisers slip up.But physics - some of the really tricky stuff - can be so mathematically dense that even the organisers slip up.
Prof Schwartz said that some researchers submit perfectly mainstream work to the meetings, but perhaps sell it badly.Prof Schwartz said that some researchers submit perfectly mainstream work to the meetings, but perhaps sell it badly.
"Sometimes they'll say, 'hey, you put me in with all the crazy papers'," he said."Sometimes they'll say, 'hey, you put me in with all the crazy papers'," he said.
Two-way streetTwo-way street
This isn't just about humouring those who have fringe ideas; there is a two-way exchange going on, said co-chair of the APS April meeting Jonathan Rosner of the University of Chicago.This isn't just about humouring those who have fringe ideas; there is a two-way exchange going on, said co-chair of the APS April meeting Jonathan Rosner of the University of Chicago.
"The reason for having these presentations is that there is a possibility that someone might get some constructive criticism, they might get some redirection that would put them onto (more accepted ideas)," he told BBC News."The reason for having these presentations is that there is a possibility that someone might get some constructive criticism, they might get some redirection that would put them onto (more accepted ideas)," he told BBC News.
"And students who attend might learn to distinguish the chaff from the wheat - it's a good experience for them to be exposed to this now and then."And students who attend might learn to distinguish the chaff from the wheat - it's a good experience for them to be exposed to this now and then.
"Or the (presenters) may have, through very unlikely means, come upon something but they just don't have the language to connect with us, and we wouldn't want to dismiss something like that.""Or the (presenters) may have, through very unlikely means, come upon something but they just don't have the language to connect with us, and we wouldn't want to dismiss something like that."
That last possibility is a compelling one. Take the case of Dan Shechtman, who in 1982 stumbled across an entirely new kind of crystal, but couldn't really explain it. He became known around the "unconventional" sessions at APS meetings.That last possibility is a compelling one. Take the case of Dan Shechtman, who in 1982 stumbled across an entirely new kind of crystal, but couldn't really explain it. He became known around the "unconventional" sessions at APS meetings.
"For two years I did not have anybody who believed my results and was usually ridiculed," he told APS News in 2003."For two years I did not have anybody who believed my results and was usually ridiculed," he told APS News in 2003.
Clarity eventually came, and with it credibility. Prof Shechtman's work ended up winning him the 2011 Nobel prize for Chemistry.Clarity eventually came, and with it credibility. Prof Shechtman's work ended up winning him the 2011 Nobel prize for Chemistry.
However, such transformations are rare.However, such transformations are rare.
About half of those who present work in the unconventional sessions are repeat visitors - determined to come back year after year and finally convince the community of their grand ideas.About half of those who present work in the unconventional sessions are repeat visitors - determined to come back year after year and finally convince the community of their grand ideas.
Another session chair told BBC News that "it costs these guys a lot of money - you wish undergraduates could be so engaged".Another session chair told BBC News that "it costs these guys a lot of money - you wish undergraduates could be so engaged".
Prof Trimble added: "Once in a while somebody has the glimmerings of a right idea - although quite often it's already out there in the mainstream community under slightly different language," she said.Prof Trimble added: "Once in a while somebody has the glimmerings of a right idea - although quite often it's already out there in the mainstream community under slightly different language," she said.
"But some of them are certifiable and you just sort of back off very gently and find somebody tall to stand behind.""But some of them are certifiable and you just sort of back off very gently and find somebody tall to stand behind."
One wonders what it might have been like to run into Bayard Peakes at an APS meeting.One wonders what it might have been like to run into Bayard Peakes at an APS meeting.
Yet, the chance to put such researchers on the right track and to hone students' critical skills are enough to convince everyone here that the sessions are a good idea.Yet, the chance to put such researchers on the right track and to hone students' critical skills are enough to convince everyone here that the sessions are a good idea.
And as Prof Schwartz put it, there is always the chance of another story like Prof Shechtman's.And as Prof Schwartz put it, there is always the chance of another story like Prof Shechtman's.
"There are times that something is so ahead of its time, or someone writes it so poorly… that some people can appreciate it and others think it's a little cuckoo," he said."There are times that something is so ahead of its time, or someone writes it so poorly… that some people can appreciate it and others think it's a little cuckoo," he said.