1584: Moments of Inspiration

2015-09-30T10:48:13Z

Marste: added reference to Meissen porcelain

{{comic
| number = 1584
| date = September 30, 2015
| title = Moments of Inspiration
| image = moments_of_inspiration.png
| titletext = Charles, I just talked to John and Mildred, who run that company selling seeds and nuts, and their kids with MOUTHS are starving!
}}

==Explanation==

{{w|Isaac Newton|Newton}}'s original examples describing the force of gravity show an apple falling from a tree in order to explain why the apple falls toward the Earth, instead of the Earth falling toward the apple, however, over time this developed into the legend that he was originally inspired by watching an apple fall, and the legend further evolved into the idea that the inspiration came from being actually struck by the apple. The first part of this comic retells that famous legend. The later comics depict similar (but more implausible) legends that could emerge if we were to assume that other scientists' most famous examples and discoveries were based on actually observing these events taking place:

Someone (possibly {{w|Otto Hahn}}?) threw a ball at {{w|Lise Meitner}}'s porcelain (model) atom collection, and Meitner discovered a way to split the atom. The porcelain might also be also be a reference to {{w|Meissen porcelain}}, in German called "Meißner Porzellan", where "Meißner" is phonetically very similar to "Meitner".

Some of {{w|Charles Darwin}}'s children had beaks, which made them less able to drink soda. (The comic is unclear on whether this makes them more or less fit to survive and reproduce; considering the negative health consequences of soda consumption, it would seem that evolution would favor the humans who cannot drink soda.) This is a reference to Darwin's initial findings on the RMS Beagle on how Galapagos finches with differently shaped beaks are better suited for specific types of food, and therefore are better selected for in environments where those foods are available. (The alt-text furthers this with a description of how beaks rather than mouths are more useful when the foods have shells that need to be cracked open.)

{{w|Albert Einstein}} remarks to a man that it's annoying that the man's twin brother keeps flashing a light from a train when Einstein is trying to check his clock. He then comes to a sudden revelation. This references several of Einstein's (separate--it makes little sense together in this manner) thought experiments on special relativity, such as the twin paradox (the twin on the train should be younger after decelerating to a stop), the time between separate flashes of light, and the time dilation experienced by the observer in the moving reference frame.

==Transcript==
:[Heading: Isaac Newton] 
:[Isaac sits under a tree. An apple falls and hits him on the head] 
:Isaac Newton: Ow! 
: 
:Isaac Newton: Aha! 
: 
:[Heading: Lise Meitner] 
:Cueball: Hey Lise! Think fast! 
:[Crash] 
: 
:Lise Meitner: Oh no! My collection of porcelain atoms! ...Hmm. 
: 
:[Heading: Charles Darwin] 
:Megan: I gave our kids soda, but the ones with beaks always have trouble drinking it. 
:Charles Darwin: I've noticed that 
:Kid 1: [Sip Sip] 
:Kid 2 (with beak): [Crunch] 
:Kid 3 (with beak): [Peck Peck] 
:Kid 4: Sluurp 
: 
:[Heading: Albert Einstein] 
:Albert Einstein: I wish your twin brother would stop shining lights at us from that train. I can barely see my clock! ...Wait! 

{{comic discussion}}

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1584: Moments of Inspiration