Welcome to the Website of Alan Walker, Science Writer

This site is about asking questions of how physical nature works and how that may lead to making useful things.

“At least the Wright brothers could look up into the sky and see birds flying.”

The quote above is from Theodore Maiman, inventor of the first working laser. He designed it starting from a principle of quantum physics: stimulated emission of radiation. That principle was invented by Albert Einstein as an abstract idea, without proof that it existed in nature. Then Edward Purcell and Robert Pound discovered it by a physical experiment.

Alan Walker in NairobiWhat is an inventor?

A person who creates something new and useful — Orville and Wilbur Wright and their controllable aircraft.

What is a discovery?

Finding something new in the natural world — stimulated emission of radiation.

Did Ted Maiman discover the laser?

No, he invented it, but whilst doing so he discovered new properties of the ruby crystal at the heart of his device.

Was Ted Maiman the first inventor of the laser?

Science WriterYes, because he made, for the first time on Earth, laser light from a working device. However, Charles Townes pointed the way by invented the maser, and Gordon Gould, after a long battle, won patent rights to the working principle of all lasers.

Was the laser invented so that compact discs could work?

No, masers and lasers were a supply-side invention, with little clear demand from consumers.

Supply- side? Read on!