i iz cat

"We found the internets. And we will rule it."

A website run by cats, so you know it's good. The best cat pictures and videos.
Like us!
Popular! Videos Comics Photoshop Battles Store

In 1975, a cat co-authored a physics paper

Cats totally assist with paper work all the time... laying on it counts as helping, right?

In 1975, a physicist by the name of Jack Hetherington had just finished writing a paper and was ready to publish but realized that he had used 'we' instead of 'I' throughout, despite being the sole author.

Not wanting to edit the paper, he listed his siamese cat, Chester, as a co-author.

The paper, which you can read here (which is way over our heads), was an in depth explanation of atomic behavior at different temperatures.

Written on a typewriter, it was far more tedious replacing “we” to “I”, as the search and replace function was obviously not an option we have in computers today.

On top of this he did not want to simply list one of his (human) friends as a co-author, as "prestige can take a hit when multiple authors are involved," among other reasons.

While his cat's name was Chester, Hetherington did not feel that he could list a generic name as a co-author. So, he made up the name F.D.C. Willard, where the F.D.C. stood for "Felix Domesticus, Chester," and as Willard was the name of Chester's father.

Here's an actual picture of Chester!

cat who co authored physics paper
source

The first time anyone outside of Hetherington’s close colleagues learned of the cat scientist was when a visitor to the college came looking for the authors. Hetherington was away. As quoted in a piece on Today I Found Out, Hetherington said, “Everyone laughed and soon the cat was out of the bag.”

Hetherington had a good sense of humor to the whole situation, and would later make multiple reprints with both his signature and Chester’s, his paw print.

The paper was published in 35 of Physical Review Letters and is still referenced today. 

Share this story!

Related Stories:

New study reveals that cats actually like us!

New study says cats are just as smart as dogs, they just don't feel like showing it

(h/t) Slate and reddit/benbar21

LIKE US!

Comments

comments powered by Disqus
cat videos

Minnie is excited to meet her little sister

cat videos

What you say versus what your cat hears

cat videos

Minnie cuddles with the baby bump

cat videos

How my pets would help if I hurt myself

cat videos

Minnie tries an automatic cat feeder

cat videos

April Fools from the cat!

cat videos

Creativity is a lot like a cat

cat videos

Minnie slithers into a box

cat videos

Recycling Day

cat videos

Cats are liquid

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!    

i iz cat

Probably the best cat site on the planet.
Cats have found the internet. And they intend to rule it.

Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright/Removal Request

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Join
catscat pictures
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Get these stories on Facebook!