The answer is quite simple - the scientists love humour. For A. Einstein humour was a kind of escape; for M. Lomonosov, E. Kant, and Y. Lotman - means of relaxation. Any scientific discovery is impossible without unexpected, paradoxical ideas. Paradox is also the foundation of any caricature; it is like yeast for dough. Scientists are serious only by appearance; science is like a game for some of them. Scientists relax organizing humorous concerts, drawing caricatures, and publishing merry rhymes.
In "dark" Stalin years humour and satire of official caricaturists were directed against genetics and cybernetics. In 1960s a book "Physicists Joke" was published. The 1960s gave birth to numerous funny publications in science-popular magazines; university students participated in a new TV game "KVN"(Club of ready-witted) with enthusiasm.
A joke is necessary in any scientific discussion, laughter and caricature can "murder" the opponent. Most of the greatest scientific discoveries of the XIX-XXth centuries were accompanied with caricaturists "commentaries". Some great scientists and their discoveries have become humorous symbols ( "Newton and Apple", "Archimedes and Bath"). In San-Francisco University there is a laboratory of helotology, a science of laughter, where scientists study the influence of smile and laughter on a human body.
1. Caricature of the French scientists Gau. Late XVIIth century.
2. Caricature of D. Mendeleev.
5. A. Hofmeister. Caricature of I. Kulik.
4. F. Reshetnikov. Caricature of V. Molokov. 1933-1934.
8. De Sola. Caricature of A. Einstein.
3. K. Rotov. Pseudo-science. "Krokodil".1938.
7. V. Fuglevich.
9. O. Callas. Racialist. "Picker". 1974.
6. V. Sidur. Caricature of I. Tamm. Detail. 1965.
By Dmitry Moskin
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