The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, located near Princeton University, is probably the gathering place for the world's smartest individuals, focusing their research on the most basic and challenging aspects of number theory and physics theory.
In fact, many insiders say that the world doesn't need too many people studying theory. To lead the world into the future, just a handful is enough. Geniuses with slightly lesser abilities would do better to spend their time on applications instead of wasting it on theoretical research.
Translated, it means that the top talents are in charge of finding the direction for future development, while the slightly less exceptional talents light up the technological tree in that direction.
So, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton is filled with people thinking about how to move the world forward.
Specifically for Roth Dugan, for the head of the Princeton Mathematics Institute and the editor-in-chief of "Mathematics Annual," walking into the Institute for Advanced Study meant any sense of superiority vanished when seeing anyone there.
Just to give you an idea, the Institute has seen over thirty physicists who have won Nobel Prizes, and there are only sixty or seventy Fields Medalists in total globally, with more than forty having worked here.
Einstein was once a permanent professor here, and Yang spent over a decade of his golden academic years here, where many achievements were incubated.
So it's quite normal to hear some mind-blowing statements here.
Roth Dugan had just entered the three-story building when he stumbled upon two people having a pointless argument.
"I can't believe it, Feynman, the old man living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is just as disgusting as the crap I pulled out last night, how could he have the face to say those words on TV... Eh? Lotte, what brings you here? Heh... you're looking for free labor again, aren't you?"
"Logan, don't put it so offensively. But rest assured, I'm not here for you this time, because you're not fit to review this paper,"
Roth Dugan said, lifting the document bag in his hand.
Although walking into this building swept away his sense of superiority, he didn't mind offending these ill-tempered folks once in a while.
Of course, it wasn't really an offense.
Roth Dugan was well aware that such remarks wouldn't make these people uncomfortable; if he really wanted to infuriate the mathematician before him, the easiest way would be to tell him that the theorem he had recently proven was wrong.
Then the guy would turn red in the face, dragging him into a frenzied day-long, even week-long, barrage of output.
But Roth Dugan clearly didn't feel like doing that today.
"Well, Dugen, it's been a month since I've seen you, but clearly, you're as spiteful as ever. By the way, do you agree with what I just said?"
Sure enough, the old man across from him didn't get angry but sought agreement from Roth Dugan.
Roth Dugan helplessly exchanged a look with the person opposite the old man before asking, "Which part?"
"That the old man in the White House is just like my crap!" the old man repeated.
"Oh, no, old Logan, I won't allow you to insult your excrement like that!" Roth Dugan said seriously before quickly walking up to the second floor amidst the lively laughter behind him. He arrived in front of an office, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
"Edward, guess why I'm here today?"
"Ha... Lotte, this isn't a good time, I've been busy lately," Edward Witten looked up briefly at the skinny old man, his eyes pausing on the document bag in Lotte's hand before directly ignoring the smile on the little old man's face, bluntly refusing.
There was no need to guess.
Aside from trying to recruit him as a free reviewer, Roth Dugan had never sought him out for anything else.
It's well known that being a reviewer for an academic journal comes without cash compensation. At most, you get a thank you in the journal, a few copies after the article is printed, or some honorary titles, but Edward Witten needed none of that.
A theoretical physicist who had won the Fields Medal, published nearly four hundred scientific journals, founder of M-theory, and leading expert in both string theory and quantum field theory, would hardly care about a bit of gratitude from a magazine, even if it was a top-tier journal managed by his very own institute.
The reason why he hadn't won a Nobel was straightforward.
The man's research was too advanced and mostly foundational. So far, no one has been able to use his theories to create specific models and conduct experiments. For example, his pioneering M-theory can be simply understood as combining five types of superstring theory and the theory of supergravity in eleven-dimensional space.
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If one day a scientist can use his theory to create a model and verify it in the lab, then the Nobel Prize in Physics the following year probably won't have any competition. It would most likely be awarded to Edward and the scientist who achieved results using his theory.
But even when faced with a direct refusal from such a top-notch scientist, Roth Dugan didn't back down. Instead, he leaned in and said, "Ha-ha, Edward, you think I came to you for review today? No, you are mistaken. I came to you today because you are suitable. I don't even want to ask Daniel to review this paper because he doesn't qualify."