--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One hundred thirty-seven is the inverse…" description: "\"“One hundred thirty-seven is the inverse of something called the fine-structure constant. ...The most remarkable thing about this remarkable number is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/leon-m-lederman-20865_fine-structure-const_one-hundred-thirty-seven-is-the-inverse_1558048.jpg" --- # One hundred thirty-seven is the inverse of something… ![“One hundred thirty-seven is the inverse of something called the fine-structure constant. ...The most remarkable thing about this remarkable number is that it is dimension-free. ...Werner Heisenberg once proclaimed that all the quandaries of quantum mechanics would shrivel up when 137 was finally…” quote by Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/leon-m-lederman-20865_fine-structure-const_one-hundred-thirty-seven-is-the-inverse_1558048.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/leon-m-lederman-20865_fine-structure-const_one-hundred-thirty-seven-is-the-inverse_1558048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/leon-m-lederman-20865_fine-structure-const_one-hundred-thirty-seven-is-the-inverse_1558048.jpg) > ““One hundred thirty-seven is the inverse of something called the fine-structure constant. ...The most remarkable thing about this remarkable number is that it is dimension-free. ...Werner Heisenberg once proclaimed that all the quandaries of quantum mechanics would shrivel up when 137 was finally explained.”” [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The number 137 is a dimensionless constant central to quantum mechanics, sparking deep scientific curiosity. **In simple terms:** 137 is a key, unitless number in physics. Key Takeaway Explore the mysteries behind fundamental constants. Themes science curiosity physics Mood thoughtful analytical Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - research - education - science communication - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts fine-structure constant dimensionless quantum mechanics Questions to Reflect On - What does a dimensionless constant tell us about nature? - How can we test theories about 137? A Different Perspective Its significance remains partly speculative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fine-structure-constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-structure-constant/) [Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heisenberg/) [Number Dimension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-dimension-5838933/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Quantum mechanics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantum-mechanics/) [Remarkable Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remarkable-number-5838931/) [Seven Inverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-inverse-5838932/) [Structure Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure-constant-644324/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/werner-heisenberg/) [Werner-heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/werner-heisenberg-204824/) ## Related quotes > [“Es gibt keinen Gott und Dirac ist sein Prophet. 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Lederman > [ He \[Democritus\] is probably best known for two of the most scientifically intuitive quotes ever uttered by an ancient: 'Nothing exists except atoms and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/he-democritus-is-probably-best-known-for-two-of-the-most/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [By the grace of AEC, BNL, God, Green and Hayworth (alphabetical order), we should see neutrinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/by-the-grace-of-aec-bnl-god-green-and-hayworth-alphabetical-order-we/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [Theorists write all the popular books on science: Heinz Pagels, Frank Wilczek, Stephen Hawking, Richard Feynman, et al. And why not? They have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/theorists-write-all-the-popular-books-on-science-heinz-pagels-frank/) [Leon M. 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My ambition is to live to see all of physics reduced to a formula so elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/science-should-have-no-less-lofty-a-goal-my-ambition-is-to-live-to/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [Democritus's work on the void was revolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/democritus-s-work-on-the-void-was-revolutionary/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [The history of atomism is one of reductionism – the effort to reduce all the operations of nature to a small number of laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/the-history-of-atomism-is-one-of-reductionism-the-effort-to-reduce/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [My children have often asked me why I never received a Nobel Prize. I used to tell them it was because the Nobel committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/my-children-have-often-asked-me-why-i-never-received-a-nobel-prize-i/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [During an intense period of lab work, the outside world vanishes and the obsession is total. Sleep is when you can curl up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/during-an-intense-period-of-lab-work-the-outside-world-vanishes-and/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [The aether: Invented by Isaac Newton, reinvented by James Clerk Maxwell. This is the stuff that fills up the empty space of the universe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/the-aether-invented-by-isaac-newton-reinvented-by-james-clerk-maxwell/) [Leon M. 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