I found the man in the most famous physics picture ever

Рет қаралды 91,722

4 жыл бұрын

The most famous image in particle physics is this one of the ATLAS detector at CERN. It shows the huge scale of the machine especially because there’s a person stood there for scale. But my question has always been WHO is this person? On my trip to CERN last month I was on a mission to find him... #spiritofATLAS
Dr Roger Ruber website: katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N94-1736_2
ATLAS experiment: atlas.cern/
Visiting CERN: visit.cern/
To all my willing interviewees - Roger, Max, Claudia, Merin, Tara, Sam, Clara and Aaron - you guys are the best for giving up your time. Also, a giant THANK YOU to Michaela Livingston-Banks (of Nailing Science fame) who took time away from the desk to follow me around with a camera all week. And a HUGE thank you to Stephanie Hills at CERN for scheduling this whole trip and for finding Roger for me
Background music is all from the KZfaq audio library and includes: The Plan is Working, Tiptoe out the Back, Adventure Theme, Magical Gravity, Spruce Tree and Saving the World.
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My new book 'Space: The 10 Things You Should Know' is out now worldwide (except US & Canada)! You can find it on amazon here: bit.ly/SpaceDrBecky
News on US & Canadian publication coming NEXT WEEK!
Don't forget to subscribe and click the little bell icon to be notified when I post a new video!
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RAS podcast that I’m co-hosting: audioboom.com/posts/7508891-it-s-all-relativity
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Dr. Becky also presents videos on Sixty Symbols: kzfaq.info
and Deep Sky Videos: kzfaq.info
Dr Becky Smethurst is an astrophysicist researching galaxies and supermassive black holes at Christ Church at the University of Oxford.
drbecky.uk.com
rebeccasmethurst.co.uk

Пікірлер: 523

@edew9180 4 жыл бұрын

She seems surprised that another cog in the machine is humble. Dudes probably been working there 40 years. Best known achievement? "That guy in the picture". It's because of guys like this, I have electricity, a phone in one hand and a tablet in the other. Thanks for highlighting one of these unsung heroes!

@ojkolsrud1 3 жыл бұрын

That was quite poetic, and true.

@baomao7243 3 жыл бұрын

I worked at LBL in 1990 and was humbled to see in the caves of the Super-HILAC a desk where Al Ghiorso worked. It sat underneath a large wall-mounted periodic table with Post-Its stuck over empty (“missing”) positions for as-of-then undiscovered heavy elements. The message on the Post-Its said: “To be discovered today.” I saw some humility there along with willingness to work day in and day our, as long as it took. Humility is a good thing…

@mathematics5573 3 жыл бұрын

He did not invent mobile phones and electricity and a tablets. Faraday and James Clarke Maxwell are responsible for the electrical power of your phones. And mobile phone flat touch screens were invented by 2 scientists: 1 went to Regent Street Polytechnic and 1 went to Leicester University.

@rafaucett 2 жыл бұрын

@@mathematics5573 : You missed the entire point.

@mathematics5573 2 жыл бұрын

@@rafaucett what point?

@inerlogic 4 жыл бұрын

Dr. Becky from now on, forever, at work, anytime she walks by that photo with anyone else in earshot: "That's Roger! I met him!"

@AdrianoCasemiro 4 жыл бұрын

The for scale guy is a nice man. You are a great interviewer, even better detective. Having fun, right, Sherlock?

@edew9180 4 жыл бұрын

Pfft no, why would she take a pay cut like that! Plus any detective I've met should rightly be named defective

@DougHanchard 4 жыл бұрын

By far, your interview with Dr. Roger Ruber is one of the best I have ever watched. His passion for physics is clearly evident and why we should continue to invest in physics research. Dr. Ruber isn't in it for fame or a Nobel Physics (edited) Prize. You can tell, he wants too make a difference, regardless of who gets credit. I'm glad you tracked him down because I think you have the same passion and path as Dr. Ruber. Well done. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.

@DrBecky 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Doug 👍 I think this is one of my favourite videos I’ve ever made too

@johnm.v709 4 жыл бұрын

@@DrBecky Once search "Spin of indivisible particle"

@jeepien 3 жыл бұрын

Well, it wouldn't be the Peace prize, would it? Physics perhaps? But as he said, it's the lead scientists who get the prize. The rest just get paychecks.

@DougHanchard 3 жыл бұрын

@@jeepien edited. My apologies.

@eliscanfield3913 4 жыл бұрын

You're such a nerd, in the nicest way. I love it :)

@FLScrabbler 4 жыл бұрын

Would that make her a geek..? 😉

@TrickOrRetreat 4 жыл бұрын

@@FLScrabbler Think Becky will embrace that title 🤗

@GoldSrc_ 4 жыл бұрын

Nerd is no longer an insult but a compliment. It stopped being an insult back in the 80s or 90s.

@bazsnell3178 4 жыл бұрын

@@GoldSrc_ Very true what you said. Just as in the 2000s the word 'queer' was re-embraced proudly by the LGBQT+ community.

@williamwest8324 4 жыл бұрын

Can you imagine being one of the 10,000 people involved in that? I would have swept the floor, just so I could say when asked, "What do you do?" "Who, me? Oh I work at the LHC." 😀

@johnladuke6475 4 жыл бұрын

I never considered that. I guess even the janitor at Los Alamos was a top-secret employee of the Manhattan Project.

@RedRocket4000 4 жыл бұрын

@@johnladuke6475 Absolutely and the janitor in particular because they go everywhere at times no one else is there. They don't have access to the safes or files unless they crack them but placing video and sound recording devices and looking over paperwork that should not be left out and things in regular trash that should have gone in the shredder to be burned can be very helpful to the other sides. If using correct need to know people working in one department not let into the others. To your other point in same sentence even if nothing is secret someone has to clean and thus deserves to be proud to work there and some credit.

@edwardlee2794 Ай бұрын

I'll be jockeying for that job, sweeping floor in front of ATLAS at CERN. JUST TO SAY I WORK AT THE LHC.

@octivia 4 жыл бұрын

Dr.Becky: Who is this? ATLAS: shrugs.

@Y.M... 4 жыл бұрын

lol

@Havreflan 4 жыл бұрын

Nice

@EnigmaDave 4 жыл бұрын

I literally laughed out loud!

@tylermiddaugh1515 4 жыл бұрын

im suprised theres 4 of us who got this lmao

@Stadtpark90 4 жыл бұрын

Who is John Galt? (Edit: In fact I never read it to the end... - I only started it after seeing an Episode of „Mad Men“, and at that time you could not buy the book in Germany: it had gone out of print and single books were selling for 100 Euros+ at the Amazon marketplace, and so I downloaded a shady PDF from somewhere on the internet... and the OCR-/ character recognition software had done a less than perfect work, I would get annoyed... (- well maybe I was also annoyed, that the story was progressing slow, and Ayn Rand was making the same points over and over again...). - At the same time I remember I was reading (Wikipedia?), that it was named the 2nd most read (or rather owned) book in the US after the bible, if you asked random people on the street for a book they have. And it was available on the US amazon site for like 5$...). Maybe it’s time to check back on it’s availability. (Maybe it’s a available as e-book in a non-pirated form now in Germany).

@sciencepetr5179 4 жыл бұрын

Becky, you're on fire. The videos you have made recently have been so bloody amazing!!

@DrBecky 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Petr 🤗

@DecadesApartBandSTL 4 жыл бұрын

Video's like this is why I have so much respect for you! You are such a fun 'real' person! Thank you for being you!

@ojkolsrud1 3 жыл бұрын

Becky, that last picture made me laugh more than I've done for several weeks. You're just brilliant. Also, thanks for finding Roger, and letting him sort of be the image of everyone who isn't mentioned anywhere, but still contributed in smaller or greater degrees to huge projects like LHC.

@tillleiden9164 4 жыл бұрын

We had a 5m version of this image in the lecture room. I look every time at this image and wondered myself. The greatest moment however was when I had the chanchse to stand infront of the opend ATLAS detector when it was maintanenced. One of the best moments of my life ... in physics :)

@hanniffydinn6019 4 жыл бұрын

Dumb ass, and you didn’t take a picture?

@Dingomush 4 жыл бұрын

You are such a fan girl, but I’ve often wondered about him to, when the pic hit Scientific American. Thank you for clearing that up.

@tehbonehead 4 жыл бұрын

So... you met the photographer who took the photo? 🤔 I guess you could say you know... 😎 WHO FRAMED ROGER RUPER?

@trinaholman4083 4 жыл бұрын

That really needs a beverage warning. Seriously.

@lmaoroflcopter 4 жыл бұрын

Brilliant interview! Love it! And finally Roger gets the recognition he deserves :)

@falxonPSN 4 жыл бұрын

This is a great video that could have just been a fun and silly scavenger hunt but turned into a great and interesting interview. Well done, Dr. Becky!

@jimbass1664 4 жыл бұрын

This should have been a 12 part Amazon show. I love that he was just one of the guys, not chosen by committee but by a dude asking for a favour. As Roger said, it's the folks like him that people tend to forget. But Peter Higgs wouldn't have a Nobel if Roger didn't build a magnet. We can't all be Higgs (though we should all try) but we can l do our Roger bit. Get rogering, people! :-)

@johnladuke6475 4 жыл бұрын

It's a lovely sentiment but I'm not sure "get Rogering" is going to catch on as a motivational phrase.

@jimbass1664 4 жыл бұрын

@@johnladuke6475 Well if you don't capitalise it, but fair point. :-)

@jeepien 3 жыл бұрын

@@johnladuke6475 Oh, don't' be too sure. In some countries, it already has a meaning.

@Jesiahjesiah 4 жыл бұрын

Fitting that you post this today, the day I arrived to CERN, to find that all tours are cancelled starting today! [from covid19] Thanks for the consolation prize in this fun vid, doc!

@leeeastwood6368 4 жыл бұрын

that should be the title for a new game; where's Roger?

@awalton 4 жыл бұрын

Can I just say, for future scientific historians, I'm glad you went through the pain to track him down and attach his name to the photo. It's so easy for people's names to get lost to history...

@JaxCR Жыл бұрын

I am a high school student here in America and I took a tour of a college today and it just so happened that Dr. Ruber was here taking his daughter on the same tour as well. I got to talk to him and he was incredibly nice, and as someone who is potentially interested in this as a career field it is a surreal experience to have found out that I met THE man in this photo. Very cool video, thank you for sharing!

@peterandersong 4 жыл бұрын

You were the right person to interview him!

@themeatpopsicle 4 жыл бұрын

You met one of the people responsible for the most magnificent magnet ever created

@rc5989 4 жыл бұрын

I am really enjoying the adventures of Dr. Becky at CERN.

@thePronto 4 жыл бұрын

Just 'a guy in the right place at the right time' turns out to be a representative for all those unknown people who made it all happen.

@smooth_sundaes5172 4 жыл бұрын

Just love your enthusiasm. In a profession I can imagine, at times, being terribly frustrating I think it's great :)

@DeOppressoLiber 4 жыл бұрын

Dr.Beky you should work for Scotland Yard as surely you also would make a great detective . Great job. 👏🏻🤙🏼. Also Mr.Roger thank you for being part of this masterpiece creation you sir are a Star. From Glendale CA.

@kento7899 4 жыл бұрын

You seem so happy and excited about science and discovery and it's great seeing the behind-the-scenes people working everyday to open the universe to us.

@augustinelopez1508 4 жыл бұрын

Unique angle on researching this topic. Another nice still done picture/ video Becky. 😎

@frankowalker4662 4 жыл бұрын

What a great interview with Dr Roger. What a nice man he is for taking the time to talk to you, and you asked all the right questions. You should do more of them, you're so pleasent and enthusiastic that I bet people love to talk to you.

@ZeedijkMike 4 жыл бұрын

This is the most interesting and heart warming detective story I have seen for a very long time.

@camhyde9701 2 жыл бұрын

such a great episode... i've always noticed Roger... really great you found him and what his role was and is now

@frzstat 4 жыл бұрын

Great interview with Roger. Good detective work Dr Becky. Holmes would be proud!

@NicksReviews 4 жыл бұрын

I thoroughly enjoyed this vid! Would love to see more like it in the future. Thanks!

@ProfRonconi 4 жыл бұрын

What an inspiring video! Well done. And Roger turned out to be a great guy.

@Gpcas9 4 жыл бұрын

Cool interview! Many questions I would have asked if I had the chance (so thanks for that ;-) ) and a few that were more interesting than the ones I thought of ;-)

@RikardPeterson 4 жыл бұрын

That was fun! And a nice, interesting interview too. 👍🏻

@Yoplight 2 жыл бұрын

Love how you are geeking out with him, love your enthusiasm

@DevangLiya 4 жыл бұрын

This video made extremely happy. Thank you!

@flwi 2 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed that interview! Thanks for tracking down that very nice man and talk about his part in this gigantic experiment. Blows my mind every time I think about it.

@BoDiddly 4 жыл бұрын

This has to be your most Epic video to date! I too get curious about the little details that other people miss.

@bimmergeezer 4 жыл бұрын

Dr Smethurst wonderful video, as always!! Thanks from all of us for tracking down Roger and interviewing him. I idealize all of you geeks that search the tiny and gigantic to see how the universe works. Keep on doing and sharing your great work.

@deeliciousplum 4 жыл бұрын

This was so much fun to watch. I am imagining Dr Roger adding a new memory from this experience.

@TheN0mad93 3 жыл бұрын

I love how energetic you were in that interview , you are a very good interviewer , and I liked the energetic looks in your eyes , they gave me goosebumps

@gavcooper 4 жыл бұрын

This is absolutely bloody great. Nearly 10 years after finishing my physics degree, and doing barely any physics since then, your channel is single-handedly making me miss all of it! Excellent work, Dr Becky!

@mentalplayground 3 жыл бұрын

What a fantastic idea for video. I enjoy it so much.

@DancingRain 4 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you got to meet Roger (for scale) Ruper! Your videos continue to be awesome :)

@AudraK 2 ай бұрын

I have always absolutely loved how bubbly and charismatic you are! Laughing and being so light hearted with everyone you meet is contagious and beautiful ❤

@zackmorrison470 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Dr. Becky for tracking him down and interviewing him! And Thank You, Dr. Ruber, for all your hard work over your many projects, for your inspiring humility, and for being so much more than "that guy in the photo." =)

@bostjan-sj 4 жыл бұрын

Ahahaha, adding English subtitles to Maximillien's somewhat-French-flavoured English strikes me sooo funny! :P

@Stadtpark90 4 жыл бұрын

Now that’s a scientist, if I ever imagined one:“My funding ended and I moved on to project XYZ (clic)“. (P.S..: I listen to the Resonator-podcast (German Podcast from / about the Helmholtz-Gesellschaft Institutes), and whenever Holger asks how the scientists came to work wherever they work, it’s almost always:“Funny you ask that, in fact it’s a coincidence, I started with X and then ended up at Y, when the opportunity arose...“)

@hanniffydinn6019 4 жыл бұрын

It’s always been 100% “it’s who you know” !

@mjmcb1 4 жыл бұрын

@@hanniffydinn6019 Or, often, you just happen to be standing in the right place at the right time.

@hanniffydinn6019 4 жыл бұрын

Michael McBain he knew the photographer you giant spastic! Did you even watch the video! The other people there refused you idiot.

@mjmcb1 4 жыл бұрын

@@hanniffydinn6019 Time to enter the 21st century, sunshine. 'You idiot"? "You giant spastic"? Really? To address your primary question "did you even watch the video?", scroll forward to 7:13, and you will hear my former colleague tell Dr Smethurst that he was, indeed, just 'in the right place at the right time'. Now please go and take a walk in the park. You have been confined inside for too long.

@hanniffydinn6019 4 жыл бұрын

Michael McBain watch the whole vid you utter spastic, the photographer said he asked others first, they refused you idiot. So it’s not he was the ONLY person in the right place at the right time. So you are indeed a dead idiot spastic that doesn’t pay attention. It’s the photographer that knew him, hence why he couldn’t refuse like all his other colleagues did. So I suggest you get an education you spastic on how to listen. 🐯🐯

@Snaakie83 4 жыл бұрын

Ok, this is just top notch! Oozing with the right enthusiastic energy! New sub and let the commercials rum to the end for extra credit, this gem of a clip deserves all it needs! Stay well!

@wojciechszmyt3360 4 жыл бұрын

This video brought a big smile on my face :) Beautiful story about the mysterious "Atlas Spirit"! +I love your accent, Becky!

@notsosecretsquirrel9389 2 жыл бұрын

Loved it. Such a sweet, informative video.

@MCsCreations 4 жыл бұрын

Really, really interesting! 😃 And the guy seems pretty nice!

@sbartdbarcelona44 Жыл бұрын

So fabulous. This is my favorite episode so far.

@charlesclements4350 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Dr. Becky. Only a person with your sense of curiosity would even ask such a question and go so far to find the answer. Yep, I'd say that you are definitely in the right field of work.

@sapelesteve 4 жыл бұрын

Terrific video Dr. Becky! Roger seems like a vey nice chap indeed. Your reference to "Helmet Hair" was, shall I say, hairlarious........ 👍👍😂😂

@NowinWTF 4 жыл бұрын

Detective Dr Becky is on the case! Well done. I'd love to see more of this type of thing. Great interview.

@stevemcinnes5480 4 жыл бұрын

great interview, great questions...well done 👍🍁🤠

@timsmith6675 4 жыл бұрын

You, Dr. Becky are so funny! Also, you teach us so much.

@theshowman8478 4 жыл бұрын

Wonderful ! Scientists are the ultimate detectives and you, Dr. Becky, are a great scientist and a great detective. Elementary my dear Watson.

@jimmarshall2757 4 жыл бұрын

Even when your having fun I learn something new. Respect.

@addas1392 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video. Thank you so much. I can't thank you enough. I really really did wonder about it.

@alnilam2151 4 жыл бұрын

I could not agree more with Dr.Ruber what a beautiful description and way of describing how medicine and science can work together and, Dr Becky thank you for finding and conducting this interview!

@hypnocilicdreams 4 жыл бұрын

This was great! More videos when you go on easter egg hunts for unsung people/places in physics please!

@edwardlee2794 Ай бұрын

I finally succeeded getting a tour of the CERN, only the above ground exhibits. Not even able to enter the cafeteria for lunch, making it appears like a proverbial ivory tower. Now, with your enchanting detective investigation, CERN is back connecting with the public. I would trade anything just to go down at Cern. Please take me along next time you hunt for anything down below at Cern. I will sweep spotless clean the floor before you or after. Thanks again dr. Becky and keep up with the good work.

@samedwards6683 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome Sauce. Super entertaining. Who says that Science and Engineering can't be fun and inspiring? And a Wonderful plug in for all of the thousands of people who, every day, are doing the heavy lifting and the dirty work that then allows an "individual" to shine - at the end of all of that teamwork. Go Roger (Dr. Ruber)! What a selfless, positive spirit.

@markheller197 4 жыл бұрын

That is totally the Best. It is Iconic. Almost got a lump in my throat at the end. It's all about the details.

@Bassotronics 4 жыл бұрын

I love this video and what surprised me was the last part when I saw Becky in the picture too! I was not expecting that. 😄

@dilipsharan8699 4 жыл бұрын

Brilliant. Love Roger. So humble and matter of fact. Yet explained difficult concepts so well. Just from those few sentences I now understand much better how they measure stuff (Well particles and such like) at CERN!

@neoanderson7 4 жыл бұрын

Truly dedicated to furthering the knowledge of humanity. 15yrs later and still going strong! Bravo! If Dr. Becky came up to me out of the blue and started to ask questions, I would be in shock. Wish there were more women like yourself in this world! 👏🏻

@Rubrickety 4 жыл бұрын

This is so much fun. Thank you, Becky!

@cannibalcrow7524 4 жыл бұрын

I remember reading articles at that time and was impressed by the actual size. Nice to see he's polite and respectful to talk with. Congrats to you 🎉

@skepticalgenious 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for producing this video. Science is so amazing. It makes me so happy for all the children of our future. Who knows what we can accomplish.

@randyford8646 4 жыл бұрын

Love how you put the human face, and personality, on science! Thank you Dr. Becky

@DrMorb1us 4 жыл бұрын

Great video Becky, thanks.

@mattlarge 4 жыл бұрын

Such a wonderful video, thank you

@hawkrider88 2 жыл бұрын

Loved this....thanks Doctor!!

@gerardfraser 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome video.Thanks for sharing

@tavochido1885 3 жыл бұрын

I love your humor sense, keep being who you are

@annsidbrant7616 4 жыл бұрын

I love that last picture of you and Roger, Dr. Becky! 😄

@pankajverma2774 4 жыл бұрын

Very well done video, very interesting. Thanks

@Ranchhand323 4 жыл бұрын

That's a Roger , Roger ..!! Doc , you have taken determination to an astronomical level !! 10,000 workers couldn't stand in the way of your quest for identifying the ' To Scale Man ' !!

@MisterTee2010 4 жыл бұрын

Great story Rebecca. You are such an amazing person.

@nomanmcshmoo8640 4 жыл бұрын

OMG! That photo at the end!!!! I'm dyin' here!!!

@sgcollins 4 жыл бұрын

I'm enjoying these episodes with the bump up in production value. If I may offer a tip: for interviews with two cameras, both cameras should be on the same side of the 'line of action' between the two participants, so that in the edit they appear to be looking at each other, instead of both looking off at something else. That comes from what you can call 'classical continuity'. As long as you're goosing up the production it might be good to keep in mind. (Of course I'm also a big fan of the Dr Becky sitting in a room talking' episodes.) Keep up the good work and thank you and your team!

@GrouchierThanThou 4 жыл бұрын

That was fun! Well done. :D

@JurijSlavec 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome as always! Should have started with the person who took the photo!

@bazoo513 4 жыл бұрын

A _very_ nice episode, Becky!

@josephmelnick3446 2 жыл бұрын

Dr. B, I don't know of anybody who matches your energy, passion, and JOY at Science and discovery. You're truly inspirational and energizing to watch. On a different note, while I understand that ALL safety precautions have been taken, especially in the light of the concerns of radiation and it's affects, I find it notable that, at 16:16, between the TWO of you, I see FIVE hands. Ol' Roger must be "extra handy" with three hands, thanks, perhaps, to the energy of the staff at the LHC/CERN. Great pic, BTW! Thanks for fangirling your heart out!

@josephmelnick3446 2 жыл бұрын

*effects??? I'm never sure. :)

@kevlareditor7532 4 жыл бұрын

That was a beautiful story. Thank you.

@frankharr9466 4 жыл бұрын

That was fun. I'm glad you found your querry. I'm sure it'll make for a great addition to your trophy collection.

@johnkotches8320 4 жыл бұрын

For Dr. Ruper to discuss the other uses of linear accelerators beyond pure research is a great way of validating the reasons why funding these endeavors has implications far beyond the obvious.