It’s now been 24 years since particles were first “blasted” at a basement lab in Innsbruck. It was 1998 when Anton Zeilinger and his team in the basement lab of the Innsbruck Institute for Applied Physics succeeded in teleporting a particle of light. Reminder of an unusual “Krone” interview.
For the “Krone” I was allowed to interview the suddenly world-famous quantum physicist. Back then, at age 52, Zeilinger was just as “young” as I am today. And on the flight to Innsbruck, I thought about what to ask him, the respected professor. Because with his experiments and the physics behind them, you can quickly get rid of it as a layman.
Zeilinger, who at the time still had a clump of curly red hair on his head and chin, was on the phone, arguing with a colleague on the receiver, had me sit in his office and wait. I was still nervously pondering questions when I saw the words “Happy Birthday” in large ancient Greek letters on a sign otherwise painted with formulas.
I was able to read this “secret message” because – unbelievably bad, but still – I had taken Ancient Greek in school. And when the professor hung up, I asked him, “Is it your birthday?”
“Why do you think?” he asked in surprise. I had his attention. Two minutes later we were trying to see who could keep reciting “Iliad” and “Odyssey” by heart (he won hands down), and when we realized he and I had both learned cello – he also had double bass – and classical appreciate jazz, the ice was broken.
Failed Mathematics Entrance Exam
He told me how ironic it was that, of all people, he had failed the mathematics entrance exam at the Fichtnergasse Gymnasium in Vienna at the age of nine. And that he had many of his best ideas in the audience in the concert hall. – To his wife’s chagrin, he would scribble notes on the program booklet devoted to Mozart and Beethoven.
When it came to the laws of physics and the unpredictable, seemingly random behavior of quantum particles, he thoughtfully said, “For me, chance is a very positive aspect of life. I wouldn’t like the idea that everything is predestined, connected with cogs A little coincidence is good for us humans!”
Multi-award winning scientist
Anton Zeilinger has won several awards, from the Isaac Newton Medal to the Golden Medal of Honor from the City of Vienna. But even then he was characterized by his playfulness, curiosity and the fact that teamwork has always been and is much more important to him than seeing himself in the spotlight.
As early as 1998, the name “Mr. Beam” in Nobel Prize circles. But the bookmakers then said that Zeilinger was too young for that.
Now it’s time. And I’m kind of proud to have once competed with a Nobel laureate to recite old Homer rhymes. – Someone else should say that dead languages like Latin and ancient Greek are not good these days.
Tobias Micke, Kronen Zeitung
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
