Paul Halpern

Physicist and Science Writer. Author of 19 books, most recently THE GREAT ATOM DEBATE: ERNST MACH, LUDWIG BOLTZMANN, AND THE BATTLE FOR THE ESSENCE OF REALITY

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

'Paul Halpern’s The Great Atom Debate is a dual biography that should be of interest even to people who don’t care a whit about physics but love a good story, especially one showcasing two fascinating, driven characters.'
-Forbes

Preorder now:

https://t.co/anHYkWhHqX

https://t.co/plde1PjPb3

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

The epic battle that shaped the very future of physics.

THE GREAT ATOM DEBATE

History of science at its most riveting! New book now available for preorder:

https://t.co/IeslcllJCZ

https://t.co/4TLjzgv0I0

[Physics In History @PhysInHistory]

The Great Atom Debate: Boltzmann vs. Mach ✍️

In the late 19th century, physicist Ludwig Boltzmann fiercely defended the reality of atoms, using them to explain entropy and thermodynamics. Ernst Mach, a prominent philosopher and physicist, opposed the idea, arguing that atoms were just theoretical constructs without direct evidence.

This heated debate highlighted the divide between empiricism and theoretical physics at the time. Boltzmann's work laid the foundation for atomic theory, but the opposition took a toll on his mental health. Ultimately, the discovery of atomic structure in the 20th century vindicated Boltzmann’s views, cementing his legacy as a pioneer in modern physics.

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

'It was Ernst Mach who, in his History of Mechanics, upset [my] dogmatic faith [in Newtonian mechanics]...

I see Mach's greatness in his incorruptible skepticism and independence.'

-Albert Einstein

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

Albert Einstein meets with Dhondo Keshav "Maharishi" Karve, a noted mathematician and one of the great advocates for women's rights in India.

In 1916, Karve established India's first university for women:

https://t.co/Ws94cBhDBJ

#Einstein #science

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

On the way to the Shelter Island conference of 1947, attendees—many of whom were Manhattan Project veterans, including Oppenheimer, Bethe, Wheeler and Feynman—enjoyed oyster dinner at Mitchell's Restaurant of Greenport, where they were saluted for their war efforts #VeteransDay

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

Schrödinger's Donkey: physicist Erwin Schrödinger once criticized Cervantes Don Quixote for an inconsistent plot. As Schrödinger wrote:

"Cervantes let Sancho Panza lose his dear little donkey—the one he used to ride. But a few chapters later, the author has forgotten this, and the good animal is back again."

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger as a dapper high school student in 1905, shortly before he studied physics at the University of Vienna.

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

@Sam__Weller Thank you Sam. I'm honored!

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

The epic battle that shaped the very future of physics.

THE GREAT ATOM DEBATE

History of science at its most riveting! New book now available for preorder:

https://t.co/IeslcllbNr

https://t.co/4TLjzgusSs

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

World Premiere of Greg DeLiso's short documentary:

"What does E = mc^2 Even Mean?"

Filmed in 2009 in front of Einstein's house in Princeton and Union Square in New York City:

https://t.co/7rAvcehhF2

#science #Einstein #IndieFilms #IndieMovies #GreatAtomDebate #physics #relativity #GregDeLiso

[Sam Weller @Sam__Weller]

@phalpern This looks terrific!

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

@Sam__Weller Thank you very much! I recently ordered a copy of your Ray Bradbury biography, by the way, and sent it to a friend of mine who is a longstanding Bradbury fan.

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

World Premiere of Greg DeLiso's short documentary:

"What does E = mc^2 Even Mean?"

Filmed in 2009 in front of Einstein's house in Princeton and Union Square in New York City:

https://t.co/7rAvcehhF2

#science #Einstein #IndieFilms #IndieMovies #GreatAtomDebate #physics #relativity #GregDeLiso

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

The epic battle that shaped the very future of physics.

THE GREAT ATOM DEBATE

History of science at its most riveting! New book now available for preorder:

https://t.co/IeslcllbNr

https://t.co/4TLjzgusSs

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

@A_Philosopher Ha!

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

What’s So Funny about Neutrinos?

The elusive lightweight particles are the subject of Nobel Prize winning research, yet the target of so much humor.

New article on Substack!

https://t.co/jmhCuSV6CG

#NobelPrizeinPhysics #NobelPrize2026 #neutrinos

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

Albert Einstein meets with Dhondo Keshav "Maharishi" Karve, a noted mathematician and one of the great advocates for women's rights in India.

In 1916, Karve established India's first university for women:

https://t.co/Ws94cBhDBJ

#Einstein #science

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

@bloggerkedar What a coincidence!

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

Five brilliant scientists captured in a single photo:

Albert Einstein Paul Ehrenfest Willem de Sitter

Arthur Eddington Hendrik Lorentz

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

Some of the greatest nuclear physicists of the 20th century pose for a photo at a conference in Munster, Germany

From left to right: James Chadwick, Gyorgy Hevesy, Elisabeth Geiger, Hans Geiger, Lise Meitner, Ernest Rutherford, Otto Hahn, Stefan Meyer, and Karl Przibram

[Paul Halpern @phalpern]

Statue of New Zealand physicist Ernest Rutherford splitting the atom and discovering the nucleus

Qingpu Statue Garden, Shanghai, China

(Many thanks to @Xirong7 for sharing the photo. Note that some artistic liberties were taken with Rutherford's appearance! 🤔)

#histSTM