Difference between revisions of "Freeman Dyson"
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| − | '''Freeman Dyson''' (1923–present), is an | + | '''Freeman Dyson''' (1923–present), is an [[atomic scientist]], [[mathematician]], and [[inventor]], best known today for his contributions to [[science fiction]], and for his refinements to the bagless [[vacuum cleaner]]. |
| − | == | + | Dyson was born in [[England]] in 1923. He received an honorary doctorate from Bates College, in 1990. During [[World War II]], Dyson flew for the [[RAF]] Bomber Command at Wyton. After the war, during the [[Eisenhower]] [[administration]], he worked on [[Project Orion]], a [[top]]-[[secret]] military project exploring the concept of nuclear flight, an idea which Dyson himself had proposed, in the 1960 science-fiction essay "Search for Artificial Stellar Sources of [[Infrared]] [[Radiation]]". |
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| + | Dyson is also known for his vacuum cleaner designs, all of which are "[[bag]]less" (meaning that they collect dust and dirt in a hollow cylinder rather than in a disposable vacuum bag), and many of which feature a rotating [[sphere]] instead of fixed [[wheel]]s or casters. The Dyson sphere is one of the most interesting innovations to come out of England, in the past fifty years. | ||
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| + | [[Liberal]] activist and political candidate [[Ralph Nader]], has repeatedly attested that Dyson vacuum cleaners are unsafe for operation around children, due to their high suction power. Dyson has laughed off these claims, joking that, ''"Nader abhors a vacuum."'' | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Geodesic Dome]] | ||
[[Category:Astronomers]] | [[Category:Astronomers]] | ||
[[Category:Physicists]] | [[Category:Physicists]] | ||
[[Category:Engineers]] | [[Category:Engineers]] | ||
Revision as of 02:11, March 23, 2009
Freeman Dyson (1923–present), is an atomic scientist, mathematician, and inventor, best known today for his contributions to science fiction, and for his refinements to the bagless vacuum cleaner.
Dyson was born in England in 1923. He received an honorary doctorate from Bates College, in 1990. During World War II, Dyson flew for the RAF Bomber Command at Wyton. After the war, during the Eisenhower administration, he worked on Project Orion, a top-secret military project exploring the concept of nuclear flight, an idea which Dyson himself had proposed, in the 1960 science-fiction essay "Search for Artificial Stellar Sources of Infrared Radiation".
Dyson is also known for his vacuum cleaner designs, all of which are "bagless" (meaning that they collect dust and dirt in a hollow cylinder rather than in a disposable vacuum bag), and many of which feature a rotating sphere instead of fixed wheels or casters. The Dyson sphere is one of the most interesting innovations to come out of England, in the past fifty years.
Liberal activist and political candidate Ralph Nader, has repeatedly attested that Dyson vacuum cleaners are unsafe for operation around children, due to their high suction power. Dyson has laughed off these claims, joking that, "Nader abhors a vacuum."