Miracle of Miracles (The Scientific Elegance of Chen Ning Yang)

Author: Yu Jun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: This book reproduces the life journey, extraordinary scientific achievements, rigorous scientific thinking, and passionate pursuit of scientific truth, as well as the deep care for China's science and education cause of the Chinese-American Nobel Prize-winning physicist Yang Zhenning, in a brand-new way, aiming to inspire and empower young Chinese scientists, educators, and students. Yang Zhenning is a renowned Chinese-American scientist who, along with Tsung-Dao Lee, was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for his proposal of parity non-conservation in weak interactions. He changed the mindset of Chinese people who felt inferior and became the light of Chinese science. Yang Zhenning was far more than a great modern physicist—he was a miracle within a miracle. His extraordinary life journey, outstanding contributions to multiple fields of physics, profound scientific thinking, unique research methods, and the creative spirit of pursuing beauty and truth with relentless self-improvement serve as an inspiration and encouragement to the younger generation. Professor Yang Zhenning is one of the greatest theoretical physicists of the modern era, who, together with Professor Tsung-Dao Lee, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for their proposal of "parity non-conservation in weak interactions." His success demonstrated to the world that at the highest level of human intellect, Chinese and Western people possess equal creativity. He is the light of Chinese science.
In the eyes of some scientists, Professor Yang Zhenning is a person with an exceptional scientific intuition and a tenacious physicist with mathematical genius. For half a century, he has dedicated himself to the intersection of what seems like mysterious physics and mathematics, where a set of elegant equations can be a source of inspiration, even revealing the essence of the physical world before experimental evidence is available. This research method, which starts from a few equations to directly reach the deep structure of nature, Yang Zhenning considers it the "miracle of miracles." Based on this, he has collaborated with others to complete at least two other works comparable to the "parity non-conservation in weak interactions" theory—"Yang-Mills field" and "Yang-Baxter equations."
Yang Zhenning is not only a great physicist but also a humanist. His thoughts, soul, and character are deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture and his family. His childhood friend, the renowned French sculptor, painter, calligrapher, and art critic Mr. Ben-Zhong Xiong, pointed out in an article: "If one were to briefly describe Yang Zhenning's scholarly and personal qualities, one might say he is a 'scholarly scientist.' Just as we speak of 'scholarly doctors' and 'scholarly generals.' The use of 'scholar' here carries a very positive and broad meaning—it is a 'humanism' nurtured by Chinese culture and holds universal value."
Beyond his work in physics, Professor Yang Zhenning's contributions have greatly promoted progress in the world, particularly in China. Due to his esteemed position on the international scientific stage, his efforts have had a profound impact on other Chinese-American scientists, Chinese scholars, and the development of China's science, technology, education, and culture.
Although Professor Yang Zhenning is engaged in physics research, he is "just like ordinary people." He brings the inner meaning of his life, his hobbies, and his deep understanding of literature, history, and philosophy into the world of science. The book The Miracle of Miracles—The Scientific Spirit of Yang Zhenning, published by Shanghai Science and Technology Education Press, introduces the extraordinary yet ordinary scientist—Professor Yang Zhenning—in a unique way. It is not easy to capture both the scientific reality of Professor Yang Zhenning and the personal qualities of this figure in a single book, but the author of this book strives to achieve this. It presents Professor Yang Zhenning's extraordinary life journey, outstanding scientific achievements, profound scientific thinking, unique research methods, educational philosophy that combines Eastern and Western approaches, and the universally valuable humanism, reproducing his passionate pursuit of scientific truth and his deep care for China's science and education cause.
On the eve of the centennial of the Nobel Prize, Shanghai Science and Technology Education Press presents this work to the、 and students of China, holding a special significance. It not only reminds people of the first appearance of a "descendant of the dragon" on the world's highest scientific award stage but also allows the descendants of Yan and Huang to deeply understand a quote once made by Professor Yang Zhenning: "My most important contribution in life is helping to change the mindset of Chinese people who felt inferior."
Professor Yang Zhenning's scholarly pursuits are the best among the best; his personal character is admired by all.