Rare Einstein Manuscript Set To Fetch Millions (phys.org) 23
A rare manuscript by theoretical physicist Albert Einstein goes under the hammer in Paris on Tuesday, with auctioneers aiming for a stratospheric price tag. Phys.Org reports: The manuscript, containing preparatory work for Einstein's key achievement the theory of relativity, is estimated at between two and three million euros (2.3-3.4 million), according to Christie's which is hosting the sale on behalf of the Aguttes auction house. "This is without a doubt the most valuable Einstein manuscript ever to come to auction," Christie's said in a statement.
The 54-page document was handwritten in 1913 and 1914 in Zurich, Switzerland, by Einstein and his colleague and confidant, Swiss engineer Michele Besso. Christie's said it was thanks to Besso that the manuscript was preserved for posterity. This was "almost like a miracle" since the German-born genius himself would have been unlikely to hold on to what he considered to be a simple working document, Christie's said. Today, the paper offers "a fascinating plunge into the the mind of the 20th century's greatest scientist," it said.
The 54-page document was handwritten in 1913 and 1914 in Zurich, Switzerland, by Einstein and his colleague and confidant, Swiss engineer Michele Besso. Christie's said it was thanks to Besso that the manuscript was preserved for posterity. This was "almost like a miracle" since the German-born genius himself would have been unlikely to hold on to what he considered to be a simple working document, Christie's said. Today, the paper offers "a fascinating plunge into the the mind of the 20th century's greatest scientist," it said.
What? Not the NFT? (Score:2)
I thought it was the NFT of the manuscript when I first saw the headline! LOL.
Re: What? Not the NFT? (Score:2)
Re: What? Not the NFT? (Score:3)
Re: (Score:1)
Too bad all you'd own was a token, that's it. The money would go towards buying the document, but the 13 people would actually "own" it. All the other suckers/donors/etc just own an exclusive token issued to buy that document. That token isn't even representing any sort of share or security in the company. It's just a token you bought so the people behind it
Re: (Score:2)
The manuscript is also a token, really, albeit a more "fundamental" one I guess.
You could learn much more about relativity from any number of textbooks that have been written since then. You know who didn't buy Einstein's discarded notes? Einstein.
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Einstein's notes would be a fine artifact in a museum, but the reason they'll sell for millions is fandom, no different than an autographed baseball or a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe.
Re: (Score:1)
I don't think anyone sensible person cares who owns one of the NFTs of something, but we should care that someone puts good images of the original online for all to enjoy.
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
If it was an NFT of the manuscript it would be worth 10-20x as much in some shitcoin.
Greatest scientist of the... (Score:2)
But the 20th century was filled with brilliant scientists. I believe with what I know of Einstein, he'd be flattered by this praise, he might even internally, entertain that it could be true. Then he'd think of the person who said it as too simple to recognize the bri
Re: (Score:1)
Quote: "There was no greatest scientist of the 20th century."
Yes, there was. He was called Nikola Tesla and was punished for his work. Without his work in wireless and electricity 99.99% of the inventions of 20th Century would not exist at all.
Recent Bias (Score:3)
But, I wonder if the 20th century was the best century in history for brilliant individuals
No, it is just the most recent century and so the one we know most about and whose discoveries have the most impact on us today. For example, today Robert Hooke is often regarded as quite a minor physicist who people are probably only aware of from Hooke's law for springs. However, his impact at the time was huge: he developed two key components for mechanical clocks and watches, devised the system to determine longitude using a watch (although it took Robert Harrison several decades later to develop an ac
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The truly amazing thing was Hookes drawings in the Micrographia, just stunningly good. The man was an amazing talent in several areas.
Just one example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Faraday was another remarkable talent, and he didnt have a degree!
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Einstein's contributions to science go beyond science proper. His unkempt hair, playful attitude, and political activism built on his accomplishments to make him a household name who, for many people, is still synonymous with the word "scientist" or "genius" even today. The legions of scientists that he inspired are probably almost a big as an accomplishment as his work itself.
It belongs... (Score:2)
In a museum!
Re: (Score:2)
In a museum!
Then buy it and put it there.
Nft (Score:2)
I wonder what the NFT for ownership of the auction transaction itself will go for! Probably 5s as much.
"I have Einstein's physical writing!"
Nice!
"I have the NFT of you buying it at auction!"
NIIICE!!
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Bugfix (Score:2)
Just imagine you come up with a theory which explains how forces transform under coordinate transformations and it works for the coulomb force, but the second force you try it on already fails: newton's force of gravity. .. Yeah, i can release this, it just needs a small fix. I'll patch it up later!
Um, guys, it's just paper (Score:2)
I can sell you a whole tree for a heck of a lot less.