How the Hippies Saved Physics

The surprising story of eccentric young scientists who stood up to conventiona-
nd changed the face of modern physics.

In the 1970s, amid severe cutbacks in physics funding, a small group 
of underemployed physicists in Berkeley decided to throw off the constraints 
of academia and explore the wilder side of science. Dubbing themselves 
the Fundamental Fysiks Group, they pursued a freewheeling, speculative 
approach to physics. Some dabbled with LSD while conducting experiments. 
They studied quantum theory alongside Eastern mysticism and psychic 
mind reading, discussing the latest developments while lounging in hot 
tubs. Unlikely as it may seem, this quirky band of misfits altered the 
course of modern physics, forcing mainstream physicists to pay attention 
to the strange but exciting underpinnings of quantum theory. Their work 
on Bells theorem and quantum entanglement helped pave the way for todays 
advances in quantum information science.

A lively and entertaining Cinderella story, How the Hippies Saved Physics 
takes us to a time when only the unlikeliest heroes could break the 
science world out of its rut.