Carlo Rubbia
Carlo Rubbia
Born	(1934-03-31) 31 March 1934 (age 78) Gorizia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Fields	Physics
Alma mater	Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa Columbia University
Known for	Discovery of W and Z bosons
Notable awards	Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984

Carlo Rubbia Knight Grand Cross (born on 31 March 1934) is an Italian particle physicist and inventor who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984 with Simon van der Meer for work leading to the discovery of the W and Z particles at CERN.

Biography[link]

Carlo Rubbia studied at Scuola Normale in Pisa and graduated doing cosmic ray experiments at Pisa University in 1959. He then went to the United States where he spent about one and a half years at Columbia University performing experiments on the decay and the nuclear capture of muons. This was the first of a long series of experiments that Rubbia has performed in the field of weak interactions and which culminated in the Nobel Prize-winning work at CERN. He received his PhD in physics from Columbia in 1959.^[1]

In 1960 he moved back to Europe, attracted by the newly founded CERN, where he worked on experiments on the structure of weak interactions. CERN had just commissioned a new type of accelerator, the Intersecting Storage Rings, using counter-rotating beams of protons colliding against each other. Rubbia and his collaborators conducted experiments there, again studying the weak force. The main results in this field were the observation of the structure in the elastic scattering process and the first observation of the charmed baryons. These experiments were crucial in order to perfect the techniques needed later for the discovery of more exotic particles in a different type of particle collider.

Experimental Physics Career[link]

In 1976, he suggested adapting CERN's Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) to collide protons and antiprotons in the same ring and the world's first antiproton factory was built. The collider started running in 1981 and, in early 1983, an international team of more than 100 physicists headed by Rubbia and known as the UA1 Collaboration, detected the intermediate vector bosons, the W and Z bosons, which had become a cornerstone of modern theories of elementary particle physics long before this direct observation. They are believed to carry the weak force that causes radioactive decay in the atomic nucleus and controls the combustion of the Sun, just as photons, massless particles of light, carry the electromagnetic force which causes most physical and biochemical reactions. It is also believed that the weak force has played a fundamental role in the nucleosynthesis of the elements, as studied in cosmology and the big bang. These particles have a mass almost 100 times greater than the proton. In 1984 Carlo Rubbia and Simon van der Meer were awarded the Nobel Prize "for their decisive contributions to the large project, which led to the discovery of the field particles W and Z, communicators of weak interaction"

To achieve energies high enough to create these particles, Rubbia, together with David Cline and Peter McIntyre, proposed a radically new particle accelerator design. They proposed to use a beam of protons and a beam of antiprotons, their antimatter twins, counter rotating in the vacuum pipe of the accelerator and colliding head-on. As a result, scientists had to develop a number of techniques for creating and handling intense beams of antiprotons.

In addition to the observation of the intermediate vector mesons, the CERN proton-antiproton collider dominated the scene of high energy physics from its first operation in 1981 until its close in 2002, when the Tevatron at Fermilab took over this role. An entirely new phenomenology of high energy collisions has resulted, in which strong interaction phenomena are dominated by the exchange of the quanta of the strong force, the gluons, particles which are similar to the intermediate vector bosons, although, like the photons, they are apparently massless. Instead, the W and Z particles are among the heaviest particles so far produced in a particle accelerator.

Together, these discoveries provide strong evidence that theoretical physicists are on the right track in their efforts to describe Nature at its most basic level through the so-called "Standard Model". The data on the intermediate vector bosons confirm the predictions included in the "electroweak" theory, which gained the 1979 Nobel Prize for Physics to Steven Weinberg, Sheldon Glashow and Abdus Salam. The "electroweak" theory attempts to unite two of the four forces of nature—the weak and the electromagnetic forces—under the same set of equations. It provides the basis for work on the long-standing dream of the theoretical physicists, a "unified field theory", encompassing also the strong force which binds together the atomic nucleus, and ultimately, gravity.

In 1970 Rubbia was appointed Higgins Professor of Physics at Harvard University, where he spent one semester per year for 18 years, while continuing his research activities at CERN. In 1989, he was appointed Director-General of the CERN Laboratory.

Rubbia has also been one of the leaders in a collaboration effort deep in the Gran Sasso Laboratory, designed to detect any sign of decay of the proton. The experiment seeks evidence that would disprove the conventional belief that matter is stable. The most widely accepted version of the unified field theories predicts that protons do not last forever, but gradually decay into energy after an average lifetime of at least 10³² years. The same experiment, known as ICARUS and based on a new technique of electronic detection of ionizing events in ultra-pure liquid argon, is aiming at the direct detection of the neutrinos emitted from the Sun, a first rudimentary neutrino telescope to explore neutrino signals of cosmic nature.

Carlo Rubbia further proposed the concept of an energy amplifier, a novel and safe way of producing nuclear energy exploiting present-day accelerator technologies, which is actively being studied worldwide in order to incinerate high activity waste from accelerators, and produce energy from natural thorium and depleted uranium. The energy resources potentially deriving from these fuels will be practically unlimited and comparable to those from fusion.

Controversy[link]

According to Burton Feldman, a historian who chronicled and appraised the Nobel Prizes, while Rubbia leading the UA1 team at CERN for the discovery of the W boson and Z boson, another team at CERN known as UA2 had also detected the W boson at the same time and the Z boson three weeks prior to his team. However, he told the other team not to publish their results while hiding the facts that he was publishing his own team results without mentioning the other team's discovery.^[2] CERN's director-general backed UA1 against UA2's protests.^[2]

Current activities[link]

Rubbia's research activities are presently concentrated on the problem of energy supply for the future, with particular focus on the development of new technologies for renewable energy sources. During his term as President of ENEA (1999–2005) he has developed a novel method for concentrating solar power at high temperatures for energy production, known as the Archimede Project, which is presently being developed by industry for commercial use.

Carlo Rubbia is currently principal Scientific Adviser of CIEMAT (Spain), a member of the high-level Advisory Group on Climate Change set up by EU's President Barroso in 2007, and of the Board of Trustees at the IMDEA Energy Institute. Since March 2009 he is Special Adviser for Energy to the Secretary General of ECLAC, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America, based in Santiago (Chile). In June 2010 Carlo Rubbia has been appointed Scientific Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam (Germany).

Asteroid 8398 Rubbia is named in his honor.

References[link]

1. ^ Scientific Director - Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Carlo Rubbia
2. ^ ^{a b} The Nobel Prize: A History of Genius, Controversy, and Prestige

External links[link]

• Nobel prize Autobiography
• Nobel prize press release
• Article on Carlo Rubbia from Encyclopædia Britannica

8398 Rubbia (1993 XY) is a main-belt asteroid discovered on December 12, 1993 by the Astronomical Observatory of Farra d'Isonzo at Farra d'Isonzo.

References[link]

External links[link]

• JPL Small-Body Database Browser on 8398 Rubbia

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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012)

Daniele Luttazzi

Daniele Luttazzi (born January 26, 1961), real name Daniele Fabbri, is an Italian theater actor, writer, satirist, illustrator and singer/songwriter. His stage name is a homage to musician and actor Lelio Luttazzi. His favourite topics are politics, religion, sex and death.

Biography[link]

Luttazzi was born in Santarcangelo di Romagna, province of Rimini. He began his comic career performing satirical monologues in theatre shows and writing comedy books. In 1988, his monologue won an award in a comedy contest held at Rome's Teatro Sistina. From 1989, he began working in tv variety shows: Fate il vostro gioco (1989, Rai 2), Banane (1989, Telemontecarlo), Magazine 3 (1993, 1994, Rai 3), Mai Dire Gol (1996, 1997, Italia 1). In 1998, he hosts his own late night show, Barracuda (Italia 1). Luttazzi did monologues about recent news, interviews with famous showbiz and political personalities, and skits for adult audiences. The same formula was then adopted for his next TV show, called Satyricon, aired by the public channel Rai 2 in 2001. In March 2001, Luttazzi interviewed journalist Marco Travaglio about "L'odore dei soldi" (The Scent of Money), a book on the mysterious origins of Silvio Berlusconi's wealth. The next year, shortly after Berlusconi's statement on the "criminal use of public television" made by Luttazzi (see Editto Bulgaro), Luttazzi's show was cancelled by RAI's management. Since then, Luttazzi has been often cited by the European press (i.e. The Economist, Le Monde, El Pais) as proof of Mr. Berlusconi's censorship of the opposition.

After television, Luttazzi toured Italy doing theatre shows and wrote books. He returned on TV in 2007 with the new satirical program "Decameron: Politica, Sesso, Religione e Morte" (Decameron: Politics, Sex, Religion and Death) for the private channel La7. Eventually his show was suspended after a controversial joke on journalist Giuliano Ferrara (who was working for La7 too).^{[1][2][unreliable source?] [3]} 2012: Luttazzi wins his legal battle against La7. La7 shall pay Luttazzi 1 million 2 hundred thousand euros.^[4]

Works[link]

Books[link]

• 101 cose da evitare a un funerale, Comix, Franco Cosimo Panini, 1993. ISBN 88-7686-221-8
• Locuste. Come le formiche, solo più cattive, Ozzano Emilia, Franco Cosimo Panini, 1994. ISBN 88-7686-496-2 Le 101 locuste sono poi state incluse nelle prime edizioni di CRAMPO
• Sesso con Luttazzi, Modena, Comix, 1994. ISBN 88-7686-497-0; Milano, Mondadori, 2000. ISBN 88-04-47641-9
• Adenoidi, Milano, Bompiani, 1995. ISBN 88-452-2446-5; Milano, Rizzoli, 1999. ISBN 88-17-68016-8
• Va' dove ti porta il clito, Modena, Comix, 1995. ISBN 88-7686-630-2; 1996. ISBN 88-7686-681-7
• C.R.A.M.P.O..Corso Rapido di Apprendimento Minimo per Ottenebrati, Modena, Comix, 1996. ISBN 88-8193-009-9 Le prime edizioni contenevano in appendice Locuste
• Gioventù Cannibale, con altri, Torino, Einaudi, 1996. ISBN 88-06-14268-2
• Tabloid. Con Panfilo Maria Lippi (e Dingo), Modena, Comix, 1997. ISBN 88-8193-017-X; 1997. ISBN 88-8193-040-4
• Teatro. Rettili & roditori, Scene da un adulterio, Modena, Comix, 1998. ISBN 88-8193-056-0
• Cosmico! Una valida alternativa all'intrattenimento intelligente, Milano, Mondadori, 1998. ISBN 88-04-45082-7
• Barracuda. Appiattire dopo l'uso, Milano, Mondadori, 1999. ISBN 88-04-45850-X
• Luttazzi Satyricon, Milano, Mondadori, 2001. ISBN 88-04-49523-5
• Benvenuti in Italia, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2002. ISBN 88-07-84011-1
• Capolavori, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2002. ISBN 88-07-84021-9
• La castrazione e altri metodi infallibili per prevenire l'acne, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2003. ISBN 88-07-84029-4
• Bollito misto con mostarda, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2005. ISBN 88-07-84054-5 include I giardini dell'epistassi
• Lepidezze postribolari, ovvero Populorum progressio, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2007. ISBN 88-07-84077-4
• La guerra civile fredda, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2009. ISBN 978-88-07-70213-6
• La quarta necessità, (disegni di Massimo Giacon), Milano, Rizzoli, 2011. EAN: 788817053471

Translations and prefaces[link]

• Translation of Daniel Clowes, L'antologia ufficiale di Lloyd LLewellyn, Bologna, Telemaco, 1992.
• Introduction to Francesca Ghermandi, Hiawata Pete, Bologna, Granata Press, 1993. Nuova edizione: Coconino Press, 2008. ISBN 978-88-7618-112-2
• Preface to Daniele Brolli e Roberto Baldazzini, Trans/Est, Bologna, Phoenix, 1994.
• Preface to Lenny Bruce, Come parlare sporco e influenzare la gente, Milano, Bompiani, 1995. ISBN 88-452-2445-7
• Preface to Massimo Giacon, Sexorcismo 2000, Roma, Mare Nero, 2000. EAN: 9788887495072
• Translation and introduction to Woody Allen, Effetti collaterali, Milano, Tascabili Bompiani, 2004. ISBN 88-452-3304-9
• Translation and introduction to Woody Allen, Senza piume, Milano, Tascabili Bompiani, 2004. ISBN 88-452-3305-7
• Translation and introduction to Woody Allen Rivincite, Milano, Tascabili Bompiani, 2004. ISBN 88-452-3306-5
• Introduction to Stan Lee e John Romita Sr., The complete Spider-Man, vol. II, 29/1/1979-11/1/1981, Modena, Panini comics, 2007. ISBN 978-88-8343-717-5

Music[link]

• 2005 - Money for Dope (EMI)
• 2007 - School Is Boring (EDEL)

Tv programs[link]

• Fate il vostro gioco, 1989 - Rai 2
• Banane, 1990 - TMC
• Magazine 3, 1994-95 - Rai 3
• Mai dire gol, 1995-98 - Italia 1
• Barracuda, 1998-99 - Italia 1
• Satyricon, 2001 - Rai 2
• Decameron, 2007 - LA7

Theatrical monologues[link]

• Non qui, Barbara, nessuno ci sta guardando (1989)
• Chi ha paura di Daniele Luttazzi? (1991)
• Sesso con Luttazzi (1993, 1999, 2003, 2008)
• Va' dove ti porta il clito (1995, 2009)
• Adenoidi (1996)
• Tabloid (1997)
• Barracuda LIVE (1998)
• Satyricon (2001)
• Adenoidi 2003 (2003)
• Dialoghi platonici (2003) (recitati da attori dello Stabile di Genova e dell'Archivolto, per la regia di Giorgio Gallione)
• Bollito misto con mostarda (2004)
• Come uccidere causando inutili sofferenze (2005)
• Barracuda 2007 (2007)
• Decameron (2008)

Music concerts[link]

• Songbook (2009)

Plagiarism[link]

In 1994, Susanna Tamaro, bestselling author of "Va' dove ti porta il cuore", sued Luttazzi for plagiarism after his parody "Va' dove ti porta il clito". Luttazzi won the trial: it was a parody, not plagiarism.

In 2007, a journalist from "Il Foglio", a centre-right newspaper under control of Berlusconi's family,^[5] accused Luttazzi of plagiarizing jokes from american comedians.

In 2010 he has been accused of having plagiarised many jokes from comedians such as George Carlin, Mitch Hedberg, Eddie Izzard, Chris Rock, Bill Hicks and Robert Schimmel.^[6] Five years before those charges, Luttazzi himself told about his scheme on his personal blog: he wrote that he adds unoriginal material to his work as a defense against the million-euro lawsuits he has to face because of his satire. Luttazzi calls his ruse “the Lenny Bruce trick” after a similar trick played by his hero, Lenny Bruce. Luttazzi asked his readers to find out the original jokes. He awards a prize to anyone who finds a “nugget”, i.e. a reference to famous jokes: he calls the game “treasure hunt”.^[7] Luttazzi also calls the charges “naive”, explaining why those jokes are not “plagiarized”, but “calqued”, which is a fair use of original material. He uses a joke by Emo Philips to prove that the meaning of a joke depends on its context.^[7] Luttazzi’s blog lists all the comedians and writers quoted in his works.^[7]

Reactions[link]

In 2010, a few commentators, after the first batch of news which didn't mention Luttazzi's 2005 post in his blog about the "Lenny Bruce trick",^[7] accused Luttazzi of lacking integrity.^[8] Others, such as Wu Ming, pointed out that as a result many former fans were switching to angered detractors of Luttazzi, with the risk of denying Luttazzi's original artistic and cultural contributions and deep renovation of Italian satire.^[9]

In Luttazzi's defense, film director Roberto Faenza quoted Roberto Benigni: Benigni compares Luttazzi's copying to the greatest artists' copying, writers like Virgil, Ovid, Dante, Shakespeare, Buster Keaton, Eduardo De Filippo, and Woody Allen.^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site with blog and podcasts