The Life and Times of Stephen Wolfram:A Scrapbook

1959–1976: Early years

1964: As a contemplative four-year-old…1964: As a contemplative four-year-old… 1964: At home with furry friend…1964: At home with furry friend… 1965: The dawn of reason…1965: The dawn of reason… 1966: Sampling the ancient world…1966: Sampling the ancient world… 1967(?): Selfie!1967(?): Selfie! 1967: “He is full of spirit & determination…”1967: “He is full of spirit & determination…” 1969: First publication…1969: First publication… 1969: Following the moon landing…1969: Following the moon landing… 1971: Just turning twelve…1971: Just turning twelve… 1972: Turning thirteen and saying what he knows about particle physics…1972: Turning thirteen and saying what he knows about particle physics… 1973: Starting to program…1973: Starting to program… 1974: A treatise on particle physics…1974: A treatise on particle physics… 1975: Publishing a physics paper…1975: Publishing a physics paper… 1976: In Eton regalia…1976: In Eton regalia… 1976: Particle physics calculations… or life before Mathematica…1976: Particle physics calculations… or life before Mathematica…

1976–1982: Quarks and beyond...

1976: Science with pen plotter…1976: Science with pen plotter… 1977: A first adventure in cosmology…1977: A first adventure in cosmology… 1978: As teenage particle physicist…1978: As teenage particle physicist… 1978: Almost the inflationary universe…1978: Almost the inflationary universe… 1978: Computer algebra as secret weapon…1978: Computer algebra as secret weapon… 1979: Becoming a professor…1979: Becoming a professor… 1979: A very short paper, just for once…1979: A very short paper, just for once… 1979: Figuring out where the top quark can be…1979: Figuring out where the top quark can be… 1980: Seeing the quarks (and gluons)…1980: Seeing the quarks (and gluons)… 1981: A little media adventure…1981: A little media adventure… 1981: Mathematica’s immediate ancestor…1981: Mathematica’s immediate ancestor… 1981: Beginning to write about “complex structures” (with a word processor)…1981: Beginning to write about “complex structures” (with a word processor)… 1982: How much energy is there in an empty box?1982: How much energy is there in an empty box? 1982: Numerical computation in the service of quantum field theory…1982: Numerical computation in the service of quantum field theory…

1981–1985: Into the computational universe...

1981: Finding out what cellular automata do…1981: Finding out what cellular automata do… 1982: In the midst of big discoveries…1982: In the midst of big discoveries… 1982: Cellular automata make fractals…1982: Cellular automata make fractals… 1983: The first cellular automaton paper…1983: The first cellular automaton paper… 1983: Virtual taxonomy: discovery of the four classes of cellular automata…1983: Virtual taxonomy: discovery of the four classes of cellular automata… 1984: Yes, the shell looks like the cellular automaton on the screen…1984: Yes, the shell looks like the cellular automaton on the screen… 1984: Cellular automata on a Sun-2 upstairs from Einstein’s old office…1984: Cellular automata on a Sun-2 upstairs from Einstein’s old office… 1984: Cellular automata on a Sun-2 upstairs from Einstein’s old office…1984: Cellular automata on a Sun-2 upstairs from Einstein’s old office… The Wolfram Classes appear in print…The Wolfram Classes appear in print… Part of the class 4 zoo…Part of the class 4 zoo… 1984: Cellular automata grace the cover of Nature magazine…1984: Cellular automata grace the cover of Nature magazine… 1984: What a mess! The two-step finite automation for rule 18…1984: What a mess! The two-step finite automation for rule 18… 1984: Some new science slips into Scientific American…1984: Some new science slips into Scientific American… 1985: Cellular automata in two dimensions…1985: Cellular automata in two dimensions… 1985: Short, sweet and rarely understood…1985: Short, sweet and rarely understood…

1984–1987: Building complex systems research

1984: Rule 30 in all its glory…1984: Rule 30 in all its glory… 1984: Feynman tries to prove that Wolfram is wrong…1984: Feynman tries to prove that Wolfram is wrong… 1984: The business of cellular automata: commemorative postcards…1984: The business of cellular automata: commemorative postcards… 1984: “You should study complexity”1984: “You should study complexity” 1985: A friend’s advice (mostly) not taken…1985: A friend’s advice (mostly) not taken… 1985: Trying the patent system on cellular automata…1985: Trying the patent system on cellular automata… 1985: Applying cellular automata to fluid flow…1985: Applying cellular automata to fluid flow… 1986: A first collection of cellular automaton papers…1986: A first collection of cellular automaton papers… 1986: The state of cellular automata in 1986…1986: The state of cellular automata in 1986… 1986: Starting a journal…1986: Starting a journal… 1987: Summarizing complex systems just before leaving the field…1987: Summarizing complex systems just before leaving the field… 1987: Pretty good technology prediction…1987: Pretty good technology prediction…

1986–1990: Mathematica begins...

1987: It all starts with C code…1987: It all starts with C code… 1987: Mathematica is alive! Programs in Mathematica before it was Mathematica…1987: Mathematica is alive! Programs in Mathematica before it was Mathematica… 1987: Omega, Polymath, Technique… and finally… Mathematica…1987: Omega, Polymath, Technique… and finally… Mathematica… 1988: Mathematica is bundled on every NeXT computer…1988: Mathematica is bundled on every NeXT computer… 1988: The first Mathematica poster…1988: The first Mathematica poster… June 23, 1988: Mathematica arrives…June 23, 1988: Mathematica arrives… June 23, 1988: Mathematica Version 1…June 23, 1988: Mathematica Version 1… June 23, 1988: The Mathematica Book is published…June 23, 1988: The Mathematica Book is published… June 24, 1988: The day after: Mathematica is a hit…June 24, 1988: The day after: Mathematica is a hit… 1989: A brief bearded phase…1989: A brief bearded phase… 1989: 30th-birthday gift from the company…1989: 30th-birthday gift from the company… 1989: Apple and Albert promote Mathematica…1989: Apple and Albert promote Mathematica… 1990: The first Mathematica Conference…1990: The first Mathematica Conference…

1989–1999: Mathematica grows up

1989: Speaking like a CEO1989: Speaking like a CEO 1990: The Mathematica Journal is launched…1990: The Mathematica Journal is launched… 1991: Getting ready for Mathematica 2…1991: Getting ready for Mathematica 2… 1991: Posing for the release of Mathematica 2…1991: Posing for the release of Mathematica 2… 1991: Mathematica 2 is released…1991: Mathematica 2 is released… 1992: Mathematica wins awards of all shapes and sizes…1992: Mathematica wins awards of all shapes and sizes… 1992: Mathematica expands around the world…1992: Mathematica expands around the world… 1993: Posing with staff on Mathematica’s fifth anniversary…1993: Posing with staff on Mathematica’s fifth anniversary… 1995: In a rare corporate pose…1995: In a rare corporate pose… 1995: Lots and lots of Mathematica books…1995: Lots and lots of Mathematica books… 1996: Mathematica 3 is released…1996: Mathematica 3 is released… 1996: Making a point in an interview…1996: Making a point in an interview… 1996: On the road to promote Mathematica 3…1996: On the road to promote Mathematica 3… 1998: Posing with staff on Mathematica’s 10th anniversary…1998: Posing with staff on Mathematica’s 10th anniversary… 1998: Mathematica is ten years old…1998: Mathematica is ten years old… 1999: Mathematica 4 is released…1999: Mathematica 4 is released…

1991–2002: A decade of basic science

1992: Collecting data for A New Kind of Science…1992: Collecting data for A New Kind of Science… 1992–2000: How the cover of NKS came to be…1992–2000: How the cover of NKS came to be… 1994: Hard at work on A New Kind of Science…1994: Hard at work on A New Kind of Science… 1994: Collecting the seeds for the new science…1994: Collecting the seeds for the new science… 1995: It was going to be a publicity shot for A New Kind of Science—but years too early…1995: It was going to be a publicity shot for A New Kind of Science—but years too early… 1996: Photographing for the NKS book1996: Photographing for the NKS book 1996: A CEO’s work is never done…1996: A CEO’s work is never done… 1997: Cellular automata as inspirational office art…1997: Cellular automata as inspirational office art… 1997: Cellular automata as inspirational office art…1997: Cellular automata as inspirational office art… 1997: Shells for science…1997: Shells for science… 1998: Pushing the envelope of printing technology…1998: Pushing the envelope of printing technology… 1999: Rule 30 fills a page of a broadsheet newspaper…1999: Rule 30 fills a page of a broadsheet newspaper… 2000: It took 6000 books to make A New Kind of Science…2000: It took 6000 books to make A New Kind of Science… 2002: Posing for the dust jacket: a little tired, but satisfied to have finished writing NKS…2002: Posing for the dust jacket: a little tired, but satisfied to have finished writing NKS…

2002: NKS arrives!

2002: Ugh! A perfectionist’s job is never done: a PostScript bug revealed in the direct-to-plate printing process of page 157 of NKS…2002: Ugh! A perfectionist’s job is never done: a PostScript bug revealed in the direct-to-plate printing process of page 157 of NKS… 2002: Precision printing is still a craft: a pile of NKS signatures hot off the press…2002: Precision printing is still a craft: a pile of NKS signatures hot off the press… 2002: NKS is finally printed…2002: NKS is finally printed… 2002: Signing NKSes for friends and employees…2002: Signing NKSes for friends and employees… 2002: Just like software engineering: the final nightly build of NKS…2002: Just like software engineering: the final nightly build of NKS… 2002: Every NKS is unique…2002: Every NKS is unique… 2002: The NKS story breaks…2002: The NKS story breaks… 2002: A New Kind of Science as a poster: all the same words, but rather small…2002: A New Kind of Science as a poster: all the same words, but rather small… 2002: NKS is #1 on Amazon…2002: NKS is #1 on Amazon… 2002: NKS hits Main Street…2002: NKS hits Main Street… 2002: The NKS media rush begins…2002: The NKS media rush begins… May 14, 2002: www.wolframscience.comMay 14, 2002: www.wolframscience.com

2002–2007: NKS takes off

2002–2003: NKS goes on tour (to 50 cities)…2002–2003: NKS goes on tour (to 50 cities)… 2002: “Award-winning” means you have to pick up the awards…2002: “Award-winning” means you have to pick up the awards… 2002: The personal server room grows2002: The personal server room grows 2003: The first NKS Summer School…2003: The first NKS Summer School… 2003: The first NKS Conference…2003: The first NKS Conference… 2003: Mathematica 5 arrives…2003: Mathematica 5 arrives… 2004: NKS as art: at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (New York)…2004: NKS as art: at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (New York)… 2004: The NKS book goes online…2004: The NKS book goes online… Citations to the NKS book grow…Citations to the NKS book grow… 2005: WolframTones is launched…2005: WolframTones is launched… 2007: Favorite cellular automata from five years of Summer School students…2007: Favorite cellular automata from five years of Summer School students… 2007: You never know where you’ll see an NKS book2007: You never know where you’ll see an NKS book 2007: A bounty is put—and claimed—on the simplest universal Turing machine2007: A bounty is put—and claimed—on the simplest universal Turing machine

2004–2009: Mathematica, NKS... Wolfram|Alpha!

2006: The concept of Wolfram|Alpha begins to build…2006: The concept of Wolfram|Alpha begins to build… 2007: Creating the very first Demonstration for the Wolfram Demonstrations Project2007: Creating the very first Demonstration for the Wolfram Demonstrations Project 2007: Beginning to blog…2007: Beginning to blog… May 1, 2007: A revolution in Mathematica…May 1, 2007: A revolution in Mathematica… 2008: Mathematica is growing exponentially…2008: Mathematica is growing exponentially… 2009: The first glimmers of Wolfram|Alpha…2009: The first glimmers of Wolfram|Alpha… 2009: Anticipation builds for Wolfram|Alpha2009: Anticipation builds for Wolfram|Alpha 2009: Wolfram|Alpha: Testing, testing…2009: Wolfram|Alpha: Testing, testing… 2009: Ready to push the button to launch Wolfram|Alpha2009: Ready to push the button to launch Wolfram|Alpha 2009: We launched!2009: We launched! 2009: August 29, 1959, 5:55pm GMT—the minute of turning 502009: August 29, 1959, 5:55pm GMT—the minute of turning 50 2009: Wolfram|Alpha goes mobile2009: Wolfram|Alpha goes mobile 2009: People like Wolfram|Alpha…2009: People like Wolfram|Alpha…

2013–present: Wolfram Language emerges...

2011: Fitting into a timeline of systematic data2011: Fitting into a timeline of systematic data 2013: Wolfram Language makes its debut (at SXSW)2013: Wolfram Language makes its debut (at SXSW) 2014: Wolfram Language is so succinct it’s tweetable2014: Wolfram Language is so succinct it’s tweetable 2015: Neural nets work!2015: Neural nets work! 2015: Mathematica turns 272015: Mathematica turns 27 2015: Steadily building the technology stack…2015: Steadily building the technology stack… 2015: Wolfram Language: an elementary book…2015: Wolfram Language: an elementary book… 2016: Roadside Wolfram Language…2016: Roadside Wolfram Language… 2018: Mathematica is 30!2018: Mathematica is 30!

2012–present: So many computational adventures...

2010: Announcing a 4th project at TED2010: Announcing a 4th project at TED 2012: Personal analytics from Facebook2012: Personal analytics from Facebook 2012: The next generation does a code+flying demo…2012: The next generation does a code+flying demo… 2012: Analyzing personal analytics…2012: Analyzing personal analytics… 2012: National Museum of Mathematics…2012: National Museum of Mathematics… 2012: First Wolfram High-School Summer Camp2012: First Wolfram High-School Summer Camp 2012–2016: Traveling the world…2012–2016: Traveling the world… 2013: Trying to be Wolfram|Alpha… but 300 years too early…2013: Trying to be Wolfram|Alpha… but 300 years too early… 2015: Pi Day of the Century… with Wolfie…2015: Pi Day of the Century… with Wolfie… 2015: Hollywood, aliens, graphics…2015: Hollywood, aliens, graphics… 2015: What is spacetime, really?2015: What is spacetime, really? 2016: Lives and ideas of some notable people…2016: Lives and ideas of some notable people… 2017– : Livestreamed CEOing2017– : Livestreamed CEOing 2000s: Making discoveries live and in public…2000s: Making discoveries live and in public… 2017: Rule 30 business cards2017: Rule 30 business cards 2017: A train station covered in rule 30…2017: A train station covered in rule 30… 2017: A New Kind of Science on the web—now in high resolution2017: A New Kind of Science on the web—now in high resolution 2017: Eclipse!2017: Eclipse! 2017: Researching scientific history in the field…2017: Researching scientific history in the field… 2019: Revealing some personal productivity schemes…2019: Revealing some personal productivity schemes… 2019: Collector of gadgets, useful and not2019: Collector of gadgets, useful and not 2019: A New Kind of Science makes it to the Moon…2019: A New Kind of Science makes it to the Moon… 2019: Testifying at the US Senate…2019: Testifying at the US Senate… 2019: Repeating a photo from 52 years earlier…2019: Repeating a photo from 52 years earlier… 2019: Walkabout: a record number of steps…2019: Walkabout: a record number of steps… 2019: Putting prizes on all-time favorite rule 302019: Putting prizes on all-time favorite rule 30 2019: Collecting some of my computational adventures…2019: Collecting some of my computational adventures… 2020: A lot of live CEOing2020: A lot of live CEOing 2020: A big surprise: perhaps a path to the fundamental theory of physics…2020: A big surprise: perhaps a path to the fundamental theory of physics… 2020: The combinators 100-year celebration event2020: The combinators 100-year celebration event
See also

The Mathematica Story: A Scrapbook