American Scientist

To the Editors:

I commend Tony Rothman for "Lost in Einstein's Shadow" (Marginalia, March-April). The pursuit of science is a grand endeavor, but as in any human enterprise, egos and passions frequently play a significant role. Although most scientists probably adhere to the rules of fair play, meaning they readily acknowledge the work of others in determining much of their own progress, there are always a few that do not, or do so only partially. The case of Einstein is perhaps the most egregious, and most of his public persona has been generated by a fawning press that did not care to look deeply at some of the sources of his ideas. I admire Dr. Rothman's courage in tackling such a major, iconic figure, one that in most people's minds seems to be behind nearly every scientific and engineering achievement of the past century.

Zen Antoniak
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Richland, WA