The Scientists
@scientistsblog.bsky.social
Lessons, advice, and insights from the biographies and autobiographies of great scientists and engineers. Learn how they did great work and apply their methods to your projects.
https://advicefromgreatscientists.wordpress.com
https://advicefromgreatscientists.wordpress.com
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What were the essential qualities of the best scientists and engineers of the 20th century that you could apply to your own work?
Mathematician Richard Hamming shared his insights after a career at Bell Labs in his lecture "You and Your Research."
Lesson #1: Aim high.
Mathematician Richard Hamming shared his insights after a career at Bell Labs in his lecture "You and Your Research."
Lesson #1: Aim high.
Edward O. Wilson, on control as one of a scientist's core motivations:
August 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Edward O. Wilson, on control as one of a scientist's core motivations:
Reading is to discovery what a spark is to a fire.
July 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reading is to discovery what a spark is to a fire.
“Ingenuity without wisdom is dangerous.”
- Walter Isaacson, The Code Breaker
- Walter Isaacson, The Code Breaker
July 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
“Ingenuity without wisdom is dangerous.”
- Walter Isaacson, The Code Breaker
- Walter Isaacson, The Code Breaker
“Live in the serene peace of laboratories and libraries.”
- Louis Pasteur
- Louis Pasteur
July 18, 2025 at 1:39 AM
“Live in the serene peace of laboratories and libraries.”
- Louis Pasteur
- Louis Pasteur
If persistence is prerequisite for success, then how can a scientist avoid becoming demoralized?Charles Darwin, Peter Medawar, and Pierre Curie offer the following advice:
1. Maintain flexibility
2. Expect failure
3. Love the scientific process
1. Maintain flexibility
2. Expect failure
3. Love the scientific process
July 16, 2025 at 12:53 PM
If persistence is prerequisite for success, then how can a scientist avoid becoming demoralized?Charles Darwin, Peter Medawar, and Pierre Curie offer the following advice:
1. Maintain flexibility
2. Expect failure
3. Love the scientific process
1. Maintain flexibility
2. Expect failure
3. Love the scientific process
"I advise you to look for a chance to break away, to find a subject you can make your own.
...
Therein you have the best chance to become a leader and, as time passes, to gain growing freedom to set your own course."
- Edward O. Wilson, "Letter to a Young Scientist"
...
Therein you have the best chance to become a leader and, as time passes, to gain growing freedom to set your own course."
- Edward O. Wilson, "Letter to a Young Scientist"
July 15, 2025 at 11:46 AM
"I advise you to look for a chance to break away, to find a subject you can make your own.
...
Therein you have the best chance to become a leader and, as time passes, to gain growing freedom to set your own course."
- Edward O. Wilson, "Letter to a Young Scientist"
...
Therein you have the best chance to become a leader and, as time passes, to gain growing freedom to set your own course."
- Edward O. Wilson, "Letter to a Young Scientist"
Four things you can do to increase your chance of scientific discovery:
1. Gather all the facts in a field.
2. Describe them and their relationships in simple language.
3. Make quantitative what was previously qualitative.
4. Pay attention to contrary evidence.
#science
1. Gather all the facts in a field.
2. Describe them and their relationships in simple language.
3. Make quantitative what was previously qualitative.
4. Pay attention to contrary evidence.
#science
July 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Four things you can do to increase your chance of scientific discovery:
1. Gather all the facts in a field.
2. Describe them and their relationships in simple language.
3. Make quantitative what was previously qualitative.
4. Pay attention to contrary evidence.
#science
1. Gather all the facts in a field.
2. Describe them and their relationships in simple language.
3. Make quantitative what was previously qualitative.
4. Pay attention to contrary evidence.
#science
Albert Einstein, on Marie Curie's relentless determination:
"Once she had recognized a certain way as the right one, she pursued it without compromise and with extreme tenacity."
#science #alberteinstein #mariecurie
"Once she had recognized a certain way as the right one, she pursued it without compromise and with extreme tenacity."
#science #alberteinstein #mariecurie
July 8, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Albert Einstein, on Marie Curie's relentless determination:
"Once she had recognized a certain way as the right one, she pursued it without compromise and with extreme tenacity."
#science #alberteinstein #mariecurie
"Once she had recognized a certain way as the right one, she pursued it without compromise and with extreme tenacity."
#science #alberteinstein #mariecurie
Harvard biologist, E. O. Wilson, on commitment as prerequisite to scientific discovery:
July 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Harvard biologist, E. O. Wilson, on commitment as prerequisite to scientific discovery:
“... there can be little doubt that the most significant event of the 19th century will be judged as Maxwell’s discovery of the laws of electrodynamics.” - Richard Feynman
Here are my top highlights on James Clerk Maxwell from "The Man Who Changed Everything" by Basil Mahon.
#science #physics
Here are my top highlights on James Clerk Maxwell from "The Man Who Changed Everything" by Basil Mahon.
#science #physics
July 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
#science #advice #mariecurie
Nurture your curiosity. Great scientific work is impossible without it.
Nurture your curiosity. Great scientific work is impossible without it.
June 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
#science #advice #mariecurie
Nurture your curiosity. Great scientific work is impossible without it.
Nurture your curiosity. Great scientific work is impossible without it.
#science #advice #biochemistry
In choosing what to work on, avoid areas where you're at a disadvantage.
Instead, look for work that feels easy for you but hard for others.
Double Nobel winner Fred Sanger avoided physics, which led him to biochemistry--where he excelled.
In choosing what to work on, avoid areas where you're at a disadvantage.
Instead, look for work that feels easy for you but hard for others.
Double Nobel winner Fred Sanger avoided physics, which led him to biochemistry--where he excelled.
June 23, 2025 at 7:17 PM
#science #advice #biochemistry
In choosing what to work on, avoid areas where you're at a disadvantage.
Instead, look for work that feels easy for you but hard for others.
Double Nobel winner Fred Sanger avoided physics, which led him to biochemistry--where he excelled.
In choosing what to work on, avoid areas where you're at a disadvantage.
Instead, look for work that feels easy for you but hard for others.
Double Nobel winner Fred Sanger avoided physics, which led him to biochemistry--where he excelled.
#science #advice
To get started, copy.
If you're not sure where to start, feeling stuck, or discouraged, then try copying work you admire.
Successes and results encourage you--both emotionally and intellectually.
Advice from Nobel winner P. B. Medawar, on results as a source of self-confidence:
To get started, copy.
If you're not sure where to start, feeling stuck, or discouraged, then try copying work you admire.
Successes and results encourage you--both emotionally and intellectually.
Advice from Nobel winner P. B. Medawar, on results as a source of self-confidence:
June 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
By courage, obstinacy, and invention, Lee de Forest--the "Father of Radio"--pioneered the electronics age with the "audion" (vacuum tube amplifier).
Here are my top highlights from "Lee de Forest: Advancing the Electronic Age" by D. Wollheim.
#science #invention #leedeforest
Here are my top highlights from "Lee de Forest: Advancing the Electronic Age" by D. Wollheim.
#science #invention #leedeforest
June 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
By courage, obstinacy, and invention, Lee de Forest--the "Father of Radio"--pioneered the electronics age with the "audion" (vacuum tube amplifier).
Here are my top highlights from "Lee de Forest: Advancing the Electronic Age" by D. Wollheim.
#science #invention #leedeforest
Here are my top highlights from "Lee de Forest: Advancing the Electronic Age" by D. Wollheim.
#science #invention #leedeforest
#science #innovation #invention #advice
What determines when a discovery or invention might be made?
Knowledge and necessity.
With an exponential growth in knowledge, what we can do is recognize what needs to be done, and then do it.
What determines when a discovery or invention might be made?
Knowledge and necessity.
With an exponential growth in knowledge, what we can do is recognize what needs to be done, and then do it.
June 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
#science #innovation #invention #advice
What determines when a discovery or invention might be made?
Knowledge and necessity.
With an exponential growth in knowledge, what we can do is recognize what needs to be done, and then do it.
What determines when a discovery or invention might be made?
Knowledge and necessity.
With an exponential growth in knowledge, what we can do is recognize what needs to be done, and then do it.
