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Albert Einstein
(14 Mar 1879 - 18 Apr 1955)
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Albert Einstein
“Why is the electron negative?”
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This quote is recalled from a first-hand conversation with Albert Einstein by George Wald in his 1957 paper, 'The Origin of Optical Activity', in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Like a left-hand glove and a right-hand glove are mirror images of each other, there are many molecules in naturally occurring substances with two forms that are mirror-images of each other. The variations have the same chemical formula, with same type of atoms bonded with the same neighbours, but having some geometrical arrangement differences in the direction of branching. Their presence in solutions is detected by different effects on plane-polarized light, hence the term “optical activity.” The variants are designated with a L- or D- prefix (from the Latin words for left and right).
Just as a left glove is not shaped to properly fit a person’s right hand, it is notable that in Nature, many biochemical processes favour only the one variant which matches the geometry of the other molecule in the reaction. The opposite form cannot react there. Remarkably, the amino acids which are most used by living organisms are composed of L- rather than D-amino forms. Also, D-ribosides are favored rather than L-ribosides.
In his paper, 'The Origin of Optical Activity', while discussing these preferences in Nature, Wald wrote that he “once had the pleasure of discussing this matter with Albert Einstein. He asked my opinion, and then said:
Thus these words were not recorded directly by Einstein himself in written form, and Wald may not have recollected the quote verbatim as Einstein spoke it, but the sense would be faithful to Einstein’s original words.
- Science Quotes by Albert Einstein.
- 14 Mar - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Einstein's birth.
- Albert Einstein - My Theory - The Times (1919).
- Geometry and Experience - Address by Albert Einstein to the Prussian Academy of Sciences (27 Jan 1921).
- Even Einstein's Little Universe Is Big Enough - New York Times article (2 Feb 1921).
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- Albert Einstein - context of quote Imagination is more important than knowledge - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
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- Albert Einstein - context of quote A theory can be proved by experiment - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
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- Albert Einstein - context of quote Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote That is relativity - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote That is relativity - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “One thing I have learned in a long life” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote One thing I have learned in a long life - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Why is the electron negative?” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “The formulation of a problem is often far more essential than its solution” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “The formulation of a problem is often far more essential than its solution” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Our exalted technological progress” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Our exalted technological progress” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “There exists a passion for comprehension” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “There exists a passion for comprehension” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “An equation is for eternity” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “An equation is for eternity” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Subtle Is the Lord: The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein, by Abraham Pais. - book suggestion.
- Booklist for Albert Einstein.