The Forgotten Genius of Physics, a work on Marian Smoluchowski

The Forgotten Genius of Physics, a work on Marian Smoluchowski is a popular science book aimed at introducing the outstanding physicist and philosopher to a wider audience. It contains many biographical elements, using memoir materials that describe Smoluchowski as a teacher, scientist, mountaineer and family man, which were published in large numbers after the physicist’s unexpected death. In the last years of his life, Smoluchowski devoted much attention to the problem of randomness. His research laid the foundation for a new branch of mathematics - statistical physics. He is considered the creator of the discipline dealing with the application of probability theory to research in physics. Ironically, one could say that Smoluchowski’s death was a coincidence. During a trip to the Ojców region, he bathed in the small Pra˛tnica river. On the same day, sewage was released into the river from an Austrian army camp upstream, causing bacteriological contamination. This led to a severe attack of dysentery and prematurely ended the scientist’s life.