Zwicky: The Outcast Genius Who Unmasked the Universe

by John Johnson Jr.

Overview

“A fitting biography of one of the most brilliant, acerbic, and under-appreciated astrophysicists of the twentieth century. John Johnson has delved deeply into a rich and eventful life, and produced a rollicking account of how Fritz Zwicky split his time between picking fights with his colleagues and discovering amazing things about our universe.”—Sean Carroll, author of The Big Picture

Fritz Zwicky was one of the most inventive and iconoclastic scientists of his time. He predicted the existence of neutron stars, and his research pointed the way toward the discovery of pulsars and black holes. He was the first to conceive of the existence of dark matter, the first to make a detailed catalog of thousands of galaxies, and the first to correctly suggest that cosmic rays originate from supernovas.

Not content to confine his discoveries to the heavens, Zwicky contributed to the United States war against Japan with inventions in jet propulsion that enabled aircraft to launch from carriers in the Pacific. After the war, he was the first Western scientist to interview Wernher von Braun, the Nazi engineer who developed the V-2 rocket. Later he became an outspoken advocate for space exploration, but also tangled with almost every leading scientist of the time, from Edwin Hubble and Richard Feynman to J. Robert Oppenheimer and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

In Zwicky, John Johnson, Jr., brings this tempestuous maverick to life. Zwicky not only made groundbreaking contributions to science and engineering; he rose to fame as one of the most imaginative science popularizers of his day. Yet he became a pariah in the scientific community, denouncing his enemies, real and imagined, as “spherical bastards” and “horses’ asses.” Largely forgotten today, Zwicky deserves rediscovery for introducing some of the most destructive forces in the universe, and as a reminder that genius obeys no rules and has no friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674979673
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	09/10/2019
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	1,100,989
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

John Johnson Jr. spent twenty-two years at the Los Angeles Times, where he was a member of two teams that were awarded Pulitzer Prizes. He was responsible for covering space and physics for the newspaper and contributed to its reputation as a preeminent source of science reporting. He has written three science books for children and shared an IRE Medal from Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc.

Table of Contents

1 Noted Young Men of Science 1

2 Glarus Thrust 15

On The Trail of Zwicky's Ghost: The Bones of the Earth 29

3 The Bigger and Better Elephant 31

4 Quantum Steak and Matrix Salad 47

5 The Expanding Universe and Tired Light 57

On the Trail of Zwicky's Ghost: The Skeleton of the Universe 77

6 New Alliances, New Physics 81

7 Tilting at Windmills 107

8 Rocket Man 117

9 Home Fires 138

10 Secret Missions, Finding von Braun 148

11 The March into Space 164

12 Bridges in Space 184

13 Domestic Life 203

On the Trail of Zwicky's Ghost: Did Dark Matter Rattle Its Chains? 217

14 McCarthy and Sputnik 221

15 Blue Stars and Quasars 240

16 Banishment: Even the Old Lion Must Roar 256

17 Young America Going to Pot 271

18 Magnificent Desolation 280

On the TRAIL OF Zwicky's Ghost: Mystery Unsolved 293

19 A Scientific Individual 297

Notes 313

Acknowledgments 337

Illustration Credits 341

Index 343

Editorial Reviews

07/29/2019

Science journalist Johnson (Peppermint Twist, coauthor) presents a well-rounded biography of the brilliant, contrarian scientist Fritz Zwicky (1898–1974). Zwicky, who as a young man left his homeland of Switzerland for California, becoming a Caltech physics professor in 1927, is perhaps most famous for his work on supernovas. He is also credited with conceiving of dark matter—though after suggesting its existence he did not pursue the subject further —and won a Medal of Freedom for his service during and immediately after WWII, including developing propulsion systems to allow fighter planes to lift off of aircraft carriers, debriefing German rocket designers, and reporting on the effects of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Johnson covers Zwicky’s numerous professional feuds fairly, noting both when Zwicky was in the right and wrong, and doesn’t hesitate to mention Zwicky’s more bizarre proposals, like the earth-burrowing “terrajet,” or his refusal to accept some now widely accepted concepts—notably, the expanding universe. A few brief chapters on the current search for dark matter, interspersed throughout, come across as out of place, given Zwicky’s limited involvement with the field. Otherwise, this study stands as an evenhanded examination of a pugnacious and imaginative genius, and it should spark new interest in Zwicky, particularly among space and rocketry enthusiasts. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

A detailed and insightful biography. The story certainly captures both the way in which Zwicky liked to see himself and the way in which some leading physicists responded to him. Others, however, took offense and did their best to ignore the astronomer, both during his lifetime and afterwards—one of the reasons why he is largely forgotten today.

Physics World - Andrew Robinson

A lively new biography…Johnson has written a book that explains the astronomical facts simply and clearly without using technical jargon. But the emphasis is on the human characters, not on the science.

New York Review of Books - Freeman Dyson

This is a fitting biography of one of the most brilliant, acerbic, and under-appreciated astrophysicists of the twentieth century. John Johnson has delved deeply into a rich and eventful life, and produced a rollicking account of how Fritz Zwicky split his time between picking fights with his colleagues and discovering amazing things about our universe.

Sean Carroll

[A] spirited biography…Johnson’s book is rich enough to inspire interesting meditations on research, idiosyncrasy—and reputation.

Nature

Perhaps the most significant gadfly to inspire, annoy, challenge, and provoke astronomy in the 20th century…I ended my read through Johnson’s book glad that, from time to time, such mavericks come along to create a bit of intellectual chaos.

The Observatory - David Stickland

[An] excellent biography of Zwicky.

Space Review - Jeff Foust

Interesting to read and provides an insight into a rich, complicated character and his engagement with the world he was part of.

BBC Sky at Night - Chris North

Of all the science biographies that came out in 2019, this one, about the legendary scientist Fritz Zwicky, was far and away my favorite…[A] gem of a book…If you enjoy biographies of scientists, particularly underappreciated ones, you'll want to pick this one up for sure.

Ethan Siegel

[An] engaging biography…Reveals a life that is far deeper and more nuanced than the caricature…A sympathetic reassessment of his overall legacy.

Wall Street Journal

Zwicky is everything a good science history book should be. With an eccentric and brilliant scientist at its heart, this book illuminates the very human nature at the center of all the best scientific discoveries.

Deborah Blum

This book is absolutely marvelous—I really could not put it down.

James Gunn

Well researched…An enjoyable read.

Physics Today - Helge Kragh

[A] spirited biography…Johnson’s book is rich enough to inspire interesting meditations on research, idiosyncrasy—and reputation.

Nature Lib

[An] engaging biography…Reveals a life that is far deeper and more nuanced than the caricature…A sympathetic reassessment of his overall legacy.

Wall Street Journal

09/01/2019

While he may not be as widely known as his contemporaries Edwin Hubble and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Zwicky (1898–1974) made significant contributions to the field of astrophysics that are as important today as they were in the mid-20th century. Former Los Angeles Times science writer Johnson paints a colorful portrait of the imaginative Swiss scientist who often rankled his peers with his cantankerous, combative personality. Acclaimed for his discovery of supernova and his prediction of the existence of neutron stars, Zwicky, the author explains, taught at the California Institute of Technology and created an extensive catalogue of galaxies. By using archival material, diaries, and interviews, Johnson provides details about the astrophysicist's childhood, education, love of skiing, and later domestic life. He also reveals that Zwicky had many interests beyond studying the stars at the university's Mount Wilson and Palomar observatories, such as developing advances in jet propulsion technology that were critical in boosting the U.S. air power during World War II. VERDICT This accessible biography of the quirky astrophysicist Zwicky and the equally quirky world of cosmic rays, exploding stars, and dark matter will intrigue lay readers and serious science professionals alike.—Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL

Library Journal