1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 219 The meeting begins! The world is paying attention!

A few days after Marconi won the Nobel Prize, many people suddenly came to London.

There are not only people from the physics academic circle, but also people from other natural science fields, as well as bosses and engineers from the business community.

But no matter who they are, they have only one goal.

That is to pay attention to the first Bruce Conference and get what each wants from it.

Physicists hope to attend more seminars in London, where many big names gather, and exchange experiences with their peers.

Because the meeting only lasts three days and the discussions are all about the general direction of physics, the details will not be discussed too deeply.

After the conference, physicists from all over the world gathered in London, and naturally no one would miss this rare opportunity.

Roentgen, Madame Curie, Rutherford and others could organize small meetings in their respective professional fields to discuss the most cutting-edge developments.

Li Qiwei has already announced that he will pay for any professional conference that wants to be held.

This move immediately attracted more physics academics to London.

People in other natural science fields do not have this treatment.

They are all here to learn from the experience.

Today, physics is much more well-known than other subjects such as chemistry and mathematics.

No matter what their education level is, ordinary people can definitely talk about the theory of relativity.

But I have never heard anyone discuss complex functions.

Therefore, the bigwigs in these fields all want to learn from Li Qiwei and improve their voice in this field.

Among them, chemistry has gone the furthest.

It turned out that after Solvay learned that Ridgeway had held such a high-end meeting, he immediately rushed to London from Belgium.

He tried every possible means to persuade Li Qiwei.

Even though he is in his sixties or seventies, he still has such a strong passion for science.

I can't spend the money I have.

Ridgway directly suggested that he could hold a chemistry conference.

In real history, the Solvay Conference was divided into two parts: physics and chemistry.

Now that physics has been separated out by Ridgway, Solvay can still organize chemistry conferences.

Ridgway introduced Ramsey (Chapter 187), the fourth Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, to Solvay.

Let them prepare for a high-end conference on chemistry.

Because chemistry is about to become a real discipline and burst out with its unique charm.

In addition to people in the academic circle, people in the industry are also paying attention to this conference.

However, their focus is not on physics itself, but on the various values ​​attached to it.

Ever since Li Qiwei proposed the concept of "technology company", this term has become completely popular.

It is in stark contrast to traditional companies engaged in tobacco, alcohol, grain, ceramics, etc.

The characteristics of technology companies are monopoly, high profits and technology intensiveness.

Anyone can do the wine business, but radio products are different.

Without a deep technical background, don’t even think about this kind of thing.

And now the smartest minds in the world are concentrated in London.

These entrepreneurs with a keen sense of smell naturally sensed the opportunity.

It is important to build good relationships and maintain friendships with these scientists in case one day they publish a patent worth a fortune.

So, all these factors have come together to make London the world's scientific center these days.

Here we can find the most cutting-edge scientific theories and the most advanced technological products.

The most important thing is that there are the smartest people in the world!

October 1909, 10, London's most luxurious hotel, the Langham Hotel.

Opened in 1865, this hotel was the first luxury hotel in Europe.

A prince of the British royal family personally presided over the opening ceremony of the hotel, which gives us a glimpse of the hotel's background.

The Langham Hotel took one year and three months to build and cost £30. It is the first 10-story super luxury hotel in Europe.

The hotel uses Italian craftsmanship and design, with platinum and gemstone embellishments on the ceilings and floors.

The hotel's public areas are covered in huge tapestries and wallpapers, decorated with marble and silk.

In 1890, the hotel installed a telephone and was equipped with more than 20 dedicated lines to ensure smooth operation.

Not only that, the hotel is also equipped with an elevator.

Each room is equipped with flush toilet, air conditioning, electric lights and other facilities.

You have to know that this is not in later times, but in the Victorian era at the end of the 19th century.

Therefore, the Langham Hotel was the favorite place for the British upper class to stay at this time.

So, when Plank and his group walked into the hotel, they were still shocked by Li Qiwei's handwriting.

Although given the identities and status of the people present, they would not be intimidated by the luxury of the hotel.

But it was just a meeting, and these old-timers thought there was no need to waste time.

Their academic achievements will not change whether the hotel is high-end or not.

But on the other hand, this also shows Li Qiwei's respect for them and the importance he attaches to this meeting.

Therefore, everyone accepted it with pleasure.

However, Planck couldn't help but admonish Li Qiwei.

"Bruce, isn't this place a bit too luxurious?"

“The cost must be high.”

"You don't need to do this at all."

The teacher really considers the students first.

Although Planck was a university professor, his salary was probably only enough to support him staying here for a dozen days.

To him, this place is not important, but it is indeed luxurious.

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Professor, it doesn't matter."

“You are some of the smartest people in the world.”

"If those shameless politicians can come here so often, we should come even more."

Li Qiwei's answer made Planck speechless and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This disciple was just as rumored, free and easy, and had an instinctive aversion to politics.

So he stopped being pretentious.

To put it bluntly, it's just a hotel. With their status and position, they can easily go to the palace.

But it is different for Einstein, Lang Zhiwan and others.

They haven't achieved success yet, so it's inevitable that they'll feel a bit strange when they get here.

Li Qiwei brought all the big guys together so that everyone could get to know each other.

Almost all the people here are familiar faces, and the atmosphere soon became lively.

Strangely enough, since Li Qiwei returned to China, there seems to be very few conferences organized in the physics community.

Especially this kind of high-end professional conference, there has never been one.

It seemed as if only Li Qiwei could bring everyone together.

There is a kind of magic in him that makes people trust him unconditionally.

Everyone present was glad that the physics world had produced a genius and a monster like Li Qiwei.

Otherwise, physics today would still be limited to correspondence between acquaintances.

This is exactly what happened in real history.

That is why the Solvay Conference is so significant.

Truth and knowledge are always being improved through communication.

People like Newton, who work hard and create all kinds of great achievements, are just exceptions in history, and it is rare to see one in thousands of years.

Everyone enjoyed afternoon tea while chatting. The Langham Hotel is also the birthplace of the British afternoon tea service.

At this time, Maurice de Broglie came over with a glass of red wine in his hand.

"Hello, Professor Bruce, I am Maurice de Broglie."

Upon hearing this, Li Qiwei clinked glasses with him.

"Hello, Your Excellency the Duke, welcome."

Maurice de Broglie smiled and said, "Professor Bruce, just call me Maurice."

"In this place full of academic atmosphere, my status as a duke seems insignificant."

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Maurice, your family has made great contributions to France."

"Now, you are shining in the scientific community again. The de Broglie family is really enviable."

Sure enough, business compliments can make people happy.

The object of praise is still Professor Bruce, who is at the peak of his career.

Morris was very happy. Given Li Qiwei's status, there was no need to flatter him.

He had secretly used the power of his family to investigate Li Qiwei.

Do not check, I don’t know, I’m scared.

He was the emperor's teacher in his country, as well as the Minister of Education of the Qing Dynasty and the president of a state-affiliated university.

In the UK, it would probably be the Minister of Education and President of Oxford University.

This status is a bit too high.

Given de Broglie's family situation, he had to be treated with courtesy.

So, instead of being arrogant, Morris kept a low profile.

"Professor Bruce, you are joking."

"Oh, my brain is too stupid. Although I like physics very much, it is too difficult."

"I've been studying X-rays recently and found it's really hard to prove that they are electromagnetic waves."

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Take your time. Maybe in the future a great physicist will emerge from the de Broglie family."

Maurice laughed and said, "In terms of intelligence, my brother Louis de Broglie is much smarter than me."

"I was going to bring him here today. Even if he can't attend the meeting, it would be good to feel the atmosphere."

"Who would have thought that the boy is now obsessed with literature and has no interest in physics at all."

"What's the use of literature, a thing that just moans without any reason."

"Our de Broglie family rose to prominence through military exploits, relying on pure strength."

“Science is the most powerful force today.”

“Whoever does not study science will be eliminated.”

Li Qiwei smiled and echoed, "I believe your brother will definitely change."

It seems that Duke Maurice is indeed a simple-minded person, no wonder he is obsessed with science.

But these days, the so-called nobility is left with only titles and honors.

The French killed many nobles.

Soon, after finishing their communication, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

They need to conserve their energy and prepare for tomorrow's meeting.
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At 1909 am on October 10, 30, the first Bruce Conference was officially held at the Langham Hotel in London.

The meeting was chaired by Lorentz, the second Nobel Prize winner in Physics, and the recorders were Bohr and Maurice de Broglie.

The three of them nodded slightly to each other. They were the "guarantors" of this meeting.

According to the meeting process, Li Qiwei first delivered a keynote speech entitled "Classical Physics and Modern Physics".

Next, the conference will discuss several cutting-edge directions in physics today in the form of special topics.

These directions have been basically determined during last night's discussion.

There may be some minor changes.

Finally, the host Lorenz gave a summary.

All contents of the conference will be open to the public, providing reference for all colleagues on the future development of physics.

Although there are only a dozen physicists in the Langham Hotel at the moment.

But physicists from all over the world in London have their eyes firmly on this place.

This luxurious hotel may witness and give birth to more brilliant physics.

Many people even hoped that Bruce, who loved to make predictions the most, would make an even more shocking prediction this time.

The meeting begins! The world is watching!

(End of this chapter)