Besides the famous chalkboard photo, Ralph Morse also captured a close-up of Einstein's desk. <\/p>
Covered with papers and journals, his pipe laying on its side, a photo set down as if he\u2019d just been looking at it. It is a very relatable desk.<\/p>
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures\/Getty Images<\/p>","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426917043749513","status_net":{"notice_id":null}},"to":[{"objectType":"http:\/\/activitystrea.ms\/schema\/1.0\/collection","id":"http:\/\/activityschema.org\/collection\/public"}],"status_net":{"conversation":"tag:gnusocial.jp,2026-04-18:objectType=thread:nonce=d58e82ee116d0f78","notice_info":{"local_id":"12473787","source":"ActivityPub","repeat_of":"12473785"}},"published":"2026-04-19T09:23:55+00:00","provider":{"objectType":"service","displayName":"GNU social JP","url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/"},"title":"minorusaba repeated a notice by mcnees","verb":"share","url":"https:\/\/toad.social\/users\/minorusaba\/statuses\/116430642789072135\/activity"},{"actor":{"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","status_net":{"avatarLinks":[{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-original-tmp20240105030318.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":400,"height":400},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-48-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":48,"height":48},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-24-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":24,"height":24}],"profile_info":{"local_id":"58950"}},"image":{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},"objectType":"person","summary":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees","portablecontacts_net":{"preferredUsername":"mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","note":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)"}},"content":"
Besides the famous chalkboard photo, Ralph Morse also captured a close-up of Einstein's desk. <\/p>
Covered with papers and journals, his pipe laying on its side, a photo set down as if he\u2019d just been looking at it. It is a very relatable desk.<\/p>
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures\/Getty Images<\/p>","generator":{"id":"tag:gnusocial.jp,2026-10-18:notice-source:ActivityPub","objectType":"application","status_net":{"source_code":"ActivityPub"}},"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426917043749513","object":{"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426917043749513","objectType":"note","content":"
Besides the famous chalkboard photo, Ralph Morse also captured a close-up of Einstein's desk. <\/p>
Covered with papers and journals, his pipe laying on its side, a photo set down as if he\u2019d just been looking at it. It is a very relatable desk.<\/p>
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures\/Getty Images<\/p>","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426917043749513","status_net":{"notice_id":null},"inReplyTo":{"objectType":"note","id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426910359834851","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426910359834851"}},"to":[{"objectType":"http:\/\/activitystrea.ms\/schema\/1.0\/collection","id":"http:\/\/activityschema.org\/collection\/public"}],"status_net":{"conversation":"tag:gnusocial.jp,2026-04-18:objectType=thread:nonce=d58e82ee116d0f78","notice_info":{"local_id":"12473785","source":"ActivityPub"}},"published":"2026-04-19T09:23:41+00:00","provider":{"objectType":"service","displayName":"GNU social JP","url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/"},"verb":"post","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426917043749513"},{"actor":{"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","status_net":{"avatarLinks":[{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-original-tmp20240105030318.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":400,"height":400},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-48-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":48,"height":48},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-24-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":24,"height":24}],"profile_info":{"local_id":"58950"}},"image":{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},"objectType":"person","summary":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees","portablecontacts_net":{"preferredUsername":"mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","note":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)"}},"content":"
And here is a better view of the state of the blackboard in Einstein's office when he passed away on April 18, 1955. The image appeared in LIFE magazine.<\/p>
I can see on the right side where he is comparing the number of independent components of various quantities in two formulations (which he has labeled \"new\" and \"old\") of gravity.<\/p>
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures\/Getty Images<\/p>","generator":{"id":"tag:gnusocial.jp,2026-10-18:notice-source:ActivityPub","objectType":"application","status_net":{"source_code":"ActivityPub"}},"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426910359834851","object":{"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426910359834851","objectType":"note","content":"
And here is a better view of the state of the blackboard in Einstein's office when he passed away on April 18, 1955. The image appeared in LIFE magazine.<\/p>
I can see on the right side where he is comparing the number of independent components of various quantities in two formulations (which he has labeled \"new\" and \"old\") of gravity.<\/p>
Image: Ralph Morse, Time & Life Pictures\/Getty Images<\/p>","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426910359834851","status_net":{"notice_id":null},"inReplyTo":{"objectType":"note","id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426889691218003","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426889691218003"}},"to":[{"objectType":"http:\/\/activitystrea.ms\/schema\/1.0\/collection","id":"http:\/\/activityschema.org\/collection\/public"}],"status_net":{"conversation":"tag:gnusocial.jp,2026-04-18:objectType=thread:nonce=d58e82ee116d0f78","notice_info":{"local_id":"12473784","source":"ActivityPub"}},"published":"2026-04-19T09:23:41+00:00","provider":{"objectType":"service","displayName":"GNU social JP","url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/"},"verb":"post","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426910359834851"},{"actor":{"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","status_net":{"avatarLinks":[{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-original-tmp20240105030318.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":400,"height":400},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-48-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":48,"height":48},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-24-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":24,"height":24}],"profile_info":{"local_id":"58950"}},"image":{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},"objectType":"person","summary":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees","portablecontacts_net":{"preferredUsername":"mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","note":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)"}},"content":"
As most physicists will tell you, a clean desk is a sure sign of a sick mind. <\/p>
This is the ideal academic desk. You may not like it, but this is what peak desk looks like.<\/p>","generator":{"id":"tag:gnusocial.jp,2026-10-18:notice-source:ActivityPub","objectType":"application","status_net":{"source_code":"ActivityPub"}},"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426926007047418","object":{"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426926007047418","objectType":"note","content":"
As most physicists will tell you, a clean desk is a sure sign of a sick mind. <\/p>
This is the ideal academic desk. You may not like it, but this is what peak desk looks like.<\/p>","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426926007047418","status_net":{"notice_id":null},"inReplyTo":{"objectType":"note","id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees\/statuses\/116426917043749513","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426917043749513"}},"to":[{"objectType":"http:\/\/activitystrea.ms\/schema\/1.0\/collection","id":"http:\/\/activityschema.org\/collection\/public"}],"status_net":{"conversation":"tag:gnusocial.jp,2026-04-18:objectType=thread:nonce=d58e82ee116d0f78","notice_info":{"local_id":"12473786","source":"ActivityPub"}},"published":"2026-04-19T09:23:40+00:00","provider":{"objectType":"service","displayName":"GNU social JP","url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/"},"verb":"post","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees\/116426926007047418"},{"actor":{"id":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/users\/mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","status_net":{"avatarLinks":[{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-original-tmp20240105030318.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":400,"height":400},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-48-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":48,"height":48},{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-24-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":24,"height":24}],"profile_info":{"local_id":"58950"}},"image":{"url":"https:\/\/gnusocial.jp\/avatar\/58950-96-20240105030736.webp","rel":"avatar","type":"image\/webp","width":96,"height":96},"objectType":"person","summary":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)","url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@mcnees","portablecontacts_net":{"preferredUsername":"mcnees","displayName":"Robert McNees","note":"Physicist and professor at a school on the north side of Chicago. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top, Tar Heel. Science, dogs, lake photos. Faves are spooky action at a distance, boosts are Lorentz transformations to another inertial frame. Opinions are mine, not my employer\u2019s.\u2029#Physics #BlackHoles #Gravity #SciComm #DogsLevel 14 Prof of Physics, Neutral Good, S:11 I:16 W:15 D:11 C:12 Ch:11, HP: 68, THAC0: 11, Equipment: Vorpal Chalk, Periapt of Tenure, Tweed Jacket (Cursed)"}},"content":"