The Unlikely Physics Author

Chester might look like an ordinary house cat, but he holds a special place in scientific history. This furry feline became the first cat to ever publish a physics paper, earning him the title of greatest feline physicist of all time.

How a Cat Became a Co-Author

The story begins when Chester's owner Jack finished his research and prepared to submit it to a scientific journal. During the review process, a colleague pointed out a problem. Jack had used the pronoun "we" instead of "I" throughout the paper, which could cause the journal to reject it as a single-author submission.

Since the paper was typed on a typewriter, fixing this issue would require retyping the entire document. Jack came up with a simpler solution - add a second author. His cat Chester became the perfect candidate.

Creating a Scientific Identity

To make the submission look legitimate, Jack gave Chester a proper scientific pen name: FDC Willard. This clever name combined "Felis" (the scientific term for house cat), "Chester" (the cat's actual name), and "Willard" (the name of Chester's father).

With this professional-sounding name, the paper was accepted and published in the journal.

A Cat's Scientific Legacy

After publication, Jack sent signed copies to friends, complete with FDC Willard's paw print alongside the signature. This revealed Chester's true identity, but rather than being scandalized, the physics community embraced their feline colleague.

Chester's scientific career didn't end there. He went on to publish another physics paper as the sole author - an achievement few cats can claim. Today, Chester is highly respected for his lasting contributions to physics.

For those curious about this remarkable cat's research, all of FDC Willard's published works can be found on Google Scholar, cementing his place in scientific history.