Extreme Physics

The first talk given by physicist John Moffat, back in 1953, was a fiasco. Only 19, he had not expected his audience to be hostile to someone trying to extend Einstein’s unified field theory. Alone and distraught by the condescending reaction of his audience, the young Moffat impulsively decided to write to Albert Einstein himself. “I have today held a talk on my work with regard to your theory at the Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen,” explained Moffat, lamenting that for his audience there “the main purpose was to undermine my personal confidence.” He did not expect Einstein to answer. Moffat was an unknown Danish message boy with no university training who had taught himself modern physics in his spare time. Einstein had no reason to write back. But he did. Encouraging Moffat to continue his research, Einstein added about the unsuccessful talk, “I can understand very well that your work has not found a favourable reception in Bohr’s circle … For...