Watt
10sparks

a playful definition of science

Physicist and academic Lev Artsimovich wrote that science is “the best modern way for individuals to satisfy their curiosity at the state’s expense.” But in his 1967 essay “A Physicist of Our Time,” he explicitly called this a humorous definition and added that it was “correct to some extent.” The line is therefore best read as a quip about public funding for research, not as a complete or official definition of science. The illustration is AI-generated.

AI-generated editorial still life of a research desk and blank budget ledger, symbolizing public support for science. Not a historical photograph or a depiction of Artsimovich. Creator: OpenAI image generation. Prompt summary: laboratory desk with blank notebook and budget ledger; no text or people. No external media included.

AI-generated editorial still life of a research desk and blank budget ledger, symbolizing public support for science. Not a historical photograph or a depiction of Artsimovich. Creator: OpenAI image generation. Prompt summary: laboratory desk with blank notebook and budget ledger; no text or people. No external media included.