Superconductivity and Other Insoluble Problems: Are There Limits to Scientific Understanding?
A talk by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon N. Cooper
When an ordinary metal is cooled to very low temperatures -- near absolute zero -- its electrical resistance vanishes. Once a current starts to flow in a loop of such "superconducting" wire, it flows forever. Discovered in 1911, this remarkable phenomenon defied explanation for nearly fifty years, until the work of John Bardeen, Leon Cooper and J. Robert Schrieffer. Today, superconductivity is still a central topic in scientific research and in the search for new technologies, while the "BCS" theory has had implications for our understanding of systems ranging from the atomic nucleus to the behavior of massive stars. To celebrate the centennial of the original discovery, we are delighted to welcome Professor Cooper, who will reflect on the history of superconductivity and on the nature of scientific explanation.
Leon Cooper is the Thomas J. Watson, Sr., Professor of Science at Brown University, where he also directs the Center for Neural Science. A graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, he shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the theory of superconductivity.
Bio
Leon Cooper
Leon Cooper is the Thomas J. Watson, Sr., Professor of Science at Brown
University, where he also directs the Center for Neural Science. A
graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, he shared the 1972 Nobel
Prize in Physics for his contributions to the theory of
superconductivity.
(born Feb. 28, 1930, New York, N.Y., U.S.) U.S. physicist. He taught at Ohio State University (1954–58) and Brown University (from 1958). For his role in developing the BCS theory of superconductivity, he shared the 1972 Nobel Prize for Physics with John Bardeen and J. Robert Schrieffer (b. 1931). His principal contribution to the theory was his discovery of Cooper electron pairs (1956), electrons that repel each other under normal conditions but are attracted to each other in superconductors.
Any of the prizes awarded annually by four institutions (three Swedish and one Norwegian) from a fund established under the will of Alfred B. Nobel. The will specified that awards should be given “to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” Since 1901, prizes have been awarded for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace; since 1969, a sixth prize, established by the Bank of Sweden, has been awarded in economic sciences. The Nobel Prizes are regarded as the most prestigious prizes in the world.
Almost total lack of electrical resistance in certain materials when they are cooled to a temperature near absolute zero. Superconducting materials allow low power dissipation, high-speed operation, and high sensitivity. They also have the ability to prevent external magnetic fields from penetrating their interiors and are perfect diamagnets (seediamagnetism). Since it was first discovered in mercury by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, similar behaviour has been found in some 25 other chemical elements and in thousands of alloys and compounds. Superconductors have applications in medical imaging, magnetic energy-storage systems, motors, generators, transformers, computer components, and sensitive magnetic-field measuring devices.
double agree, the fact that the speaker was pointing a laser pointer at the screen the whole time should have been a huge cue to the camera operator. its also obvious that the operator had zero interest in the subject because he cuts away from the slide at the point where it is MOST important to fully understand the speakers message.
otherwise great session.
Never send this cameraman to film a scientific talk again. The camera should be pointed at the screen, not the speaker. I'm not interested watching an old man looking to his left. I'm interested in listening to him and watching his presentation. It's enough to show the speaker in the beginning and end.
member. 
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