Prize: Physics
Talked Out Of His Ass About: Genetics
William Shockley was probably named by the same people that write Batman comics, because he invented the transistor.
Rejected names: John Electron, Brian Semiconductor.
The transistor became the basis of a new invention called the "computer" which I suspect those of you reading this may be familiar with.
After a failed attempt at running a business, he became a professor at Stanford, which was more than happy to take on a Nobel Prize winner. While he enjoyed the job, he apparently had way too much spare time to think about non-physics related things. Like eugenics.
He decided that intelligence is determined by our genes, which most people agree is partially true. Then he decided that black people had less of these good genes, and it all went to hell. Highlights of his self-destructing career path include a Senate campaign on the platform of sterilizing people with sub-100 IQs, and becoming the only Nobel Prize winner to answer a call for donations to a superbaby sperm bank.
According to IMDB, he also played a rapist in Showgirls. Movie makeup is amazing these days!
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