Discover
/
Article

Beauty and the quest for beauty in science

JUL 01, 1979
Science, like the arts, admits aesthetic criteria; we seek theories that display “a proper conformity of the parts to one another and to the whole” while still showing “some strangeness in their proportion.”

DOI: 10.1063/1.2995616

S. Chandrasekhar

The topic to which I have been asked to address myself is a difficult one, if one is to avoid the trivial and the banal. Besides, my knowledge and my experience, such as they are, compel me to limit myself, entirely, to the theoretical aspects of the physical sciences—limitations, most serious. I must, therefore, begin by asking for your patience and your forbearance.

This article is only available in PDF format

More about the Authors

S. Chandrasekhar. Enrico Fermi Institute of the University of Chicago.

Related content
/
Article
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
/
Article
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
/
Article
Bottom-up self-assembly is a powerful approach to engineering at small scales. Special strategies are needed to formulate components that assemble into predetermined shapes with precise sizes.
/
Article
The polymath scientist leaves behind a monumental legacy in both the scientific and political realms.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1979_07.jpeg

Volume 32, Number 7

Get PT in your inbox

Physics Today - The Week in Physics

The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.

Physics Today - Table of Contents
Physics Today - Whitepapers & Webinars
By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.