Physics term of the week

I was reading an article in the June 2006 issue of Physics Today and I was reminded of the term Schumtzphysik, which means "dirt physics" or (translating it a little less literally and a little better) "dirty physics." This is the term that Pauli used to describe early solid state physics.

By the way, the word "schmutz" is also the Yiddish word for dirt. I grew up listening to complaints about cleaning up schmutz, which is why certain last names can be amusing. :)

Sometimes it's useful to know a little Yiddish.