------------------------ On numerology in physics ------------------------ In 1931, the later Nobel prize winner Hans Bethe published a simple ''derivation'' of the value of the fein structure constant, G. Beck, H. Bethe, and W. Riezler, Remarks on the quantum theory of the absolute zero of temperature, Die Naturwissenschaften 2 (1931), 38-39. devoid of any meaning. Ben Weiner comments the hoax in http://www.math.tohoku.ac.jp/~kuroki/Sokal/misc/bethespoof.html This paper, ``Remarks on the quantum theory of the absolute zero of temperature,'' by G. Beck, H. Bethe, and W. Riezler, was published in 1931 in a well-known physics journal as a legitimate research article. (Note: Hans Bethe would go on to do much fundamental research and win a Nobel Prize.) To anyone with a rudimentary modern physics background it is nonsensical, and screamingly funny as a parody of certain kinds of ``numerology'' which are popular with pseudo-scientists and crackpots. George Gamov discusses this hoax in his book ''The great physicists from Galileo to Einstein'' on p.326. He writes: After the paper was published the editor of the magazine, being informed by one of Berlin's physicists that it was a hoax, wrote a fiery letter to the authors, who were at that time working at Cambridge University. Back came a humble answer, which said the authors were very sorry for the misunderstanding, but that they were sure that the paper would be considered as a parody of the way _certain_ physicists build their theories. Thus, the next issue of _Naturwissenschaften_ carried a note from the editor to the effect that it was hoped that all readers understood that Beck, Bethe, and Riezler's article was just a parody. And then Sir Arthur Eddington exploded! See See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddington_number