Passing of Thomas E. Kurtz (co-creator of BASIC)

[LinusSch]

(11-19-2024 06:43 AM)carey Wrote:  When asked about his work with Einstein, Kemeny wrote: "People would ask - did you know enough physics to help Einstein? My standard line was: Einstein did not need help in physics. But contrary to popular belief, Einstein did need help in mathematics. By which I do not mean that he wasn't good at mathematics. He was very good at it, but he was not an up-to-date, research-level mathematician. So he needed an assistant for that, and, frankly, I was more up-to-date in mathematics than he was."

Brilliantly put by Kemeny. I think this happens quite a bit at the forefront of research, help is needed from up-to-date research in fundamental or adjacent fields. And I have more than once encountered that I do not know enough math well enough to understand what the physics researchers are saying... while they are actively trying to explain physics to me!