Wednesday, October 5, 2011

We have a winner!

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Photo from Focus, e-mag of the Technion

Yes! We have a winner!
A Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Prof. Daniel Shechtman of the Technion--Israel Institute of Technology!
For the discovery of non-repeating patterns in quasicrystals:


Please watch this short video of him telling about the moment of his discovery and what happened afterwards.
It is so human!
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I think Shechtman deserves a prize just for tenaciously holding fast to his belief in his work even when at first, American colleagues shunned and even banned him.
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Mazal tov, Danny!

BTW, that makes at least ten Nobel laureates for Israel in the short history of our state.
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UPDATE: The IsRealli blog now quotes Shechtman as saying, at a news conference today:
“The main lesson that I have learned over time is that a good scientist is a humble and listening scientist and not one that is sure 100 percent in what he read in the textbooks.”

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See also the illustrations there of the connection between the crystal structure and arabesque.

14 comments:

  1. That is so cool, for Shechtman, for the Technion and for Israel. And even better for one of the tiniest nations on earth.

    Australia has been talking about the Nobel Prize all day today. Professor Brian Schmidt of the Australian National University for winning the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics (shared). It is in a subject that I don't even vaguely understand, but the country is partying hard :)

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  2. Congratulations and Hurra for Shechtman!
    I wonder who gets the Nobel Peace Prize tomorrow..

    Happy evening!

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  3. My compliments to this great guy!

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  4. Congrats! What an accomplishment!

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  5. Congratulations! You know, it is not a surprise at all, the number of winners)).

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  6. congratulation.. humans well hearted are so needed .. thanks for sharing

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  7. That was marvelous, Dina. I'm glad he fought for what he knew was true, and that his efforts have now been recognized and honored and the resulting good is helping mankind.

    It is so human, as you say.

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  8. Concratulations upon this achievement !

    This made life feel good again. Please have you all a wonderful Thursday.

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  9. He's a great example for everyone - keep an open mind and fight for what you believe in. Congratulations to Prof. Shechtman!

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  10. My warmest compliments and congratulations to Shechtman!

    Have a good day, Dina.

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  11. Vindication can be so sweet! I add my congratulations to Professor Shechtman for his persistence in the face of such adversity, and thanks, Dina, for posting such a positive news story!

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  12. Congratulations Prof. Shechtman and congratulations Israel!

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