Sir Arthur Eddington (1882-1944) was a serious scientist in his own right, one of the many in the early 20th century to be overshadowed in history by such giants as Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and Nikola Tesla.

    But in addition to his own insights and discoveries, Eddington made his mark in two ways. First, he was the chief interpreter to the English-speaking world of Einstein's brilliance. Because of the animosity between England and Germany as a result of World War I, communication--including scientific cooperation--between the two countries was severely impacted. (Einstein published his general theory of relativity in 1915; the war ran from 1914 to 1918.)

    As secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society, Eddington received letters and papers regarding the theory. He was uniquely suited to pass on what he knew. First, he was a pacifist, and refused to ignore Einstein's ideas just because they were discovered by an "enemy." Second, he was a well-trained astronomer and mathematician, and could grasp the complexity of the ideas. And third, he was an excellent writer, who used humor and clear explanations to help others understand those ideas. He became, then, a popularizer of science, and at one point his name was a household word in England.

    Eddington also became famous was as a philosopher of science. As discoveries were coming thick and fast, the scientific establishment needed to create a new matrix of thought, a system of understanding in which to place all this new information. Eddington was one of those who undertook the task. In his book "The Nature of the Physical World," he stated that the world as we know it is essentially a construction of the mind, a position known as "Idealism." (Whether there is an actually reality outside of our minds is a separate, and much more difficult, question.) This had important implications for the practice of science.

    But Eddington was above all a scientist, working--among other ways--in areas that confirmed Einstein's theory. While not so widely read today, he remains an important figure in the history of science.

    Vocabulary: Which word above means:

    1. a person opposed to war and in favor of peace

    2. commonly-known name or expression

    3. one who helps others understand something

    4. understanding

    5. without depending on others

    6. made less important; obscured

    7. effects, results

    8. one who helps make things familiar

    ANSWERS: 1. pacifist 2. household word 3. interpreter 4. grasp 5. in his own right 6. overshadowed 7. implications 8. popularizer