Robert L. Wolke (; April 2, 1928 – August 29, 2021) was an American chemist,
professor emeritus of
chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
at the
University of Pittsburgh. He was a food columnist for ''
The Washington Post'', and had written multiple books, which aim to explain everyday phenomena in non-technical terms:
''What Einstein Didn't Know: Scientific Answers to Everyday Questions'' contains answers to everyday questions (e.g. "Why do car batteries go dead in winter?" and "Why does warm beer go flat?"), attempting to explain them scientifically but without using technical terms (though it often shows technical terms after their definitions). It also contains bar bets and "Try it" experiments related to the current subject.
''What Einstein Told His Barber: More Scientific Answers to Everyday Questions'' is a
nonfiction
Nonfiction, or non-fiction, is any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to provide information (and sometimes opinions) grounded only in facts and real life, rather than in imagination. Nonfiction is often associated with be ...
book written by Wolke. It is the sequel to ''What Einstein Didn't Know: Scientific Answers to Everyday Questions''.
''What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained'' provides answers to common
food science questions. The book also contains recipes by Wolke's wife,
Marlene Parrish
Marlene may refer to:
People
* Marlene (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Marlene (Burmese businesswoman), Nang Kham Noung (born 1991)
* Marlene (Japanese singer) (born 1960), a Filipina jazz singer active in Japan
Film
* ...
. Both the
James Beard Foundation and
International Association of Culinary Professionals have nominated this book as 2005's best technical or reference book.
''What Einstein Told His Cook 2, The Sequel: Further Adventures in Kitchen Science'' () is a
nonfiction
Nonfiction, or non-fiction, is any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to provide information (and sometimes opinions) grounded only in facts and real life, rather than in imagination. Nonfiction is often associated with be ...
book and sequel to ''What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained''; this book provides answers to common questions related to
kitchen science
Molecular gastronomy is the scientific approach of nutrition from primarily the perspective of chemistry. The composition (molecular structure), properties (mass, viscosity, etc) and transformations (chemical reactions, reactant products) of a ...
.
Awards
Wolke won awards such as the
American Chemical Society's 2005
James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public,
' Bert Greene Award, and the
James Beard Foundation's award for the best newspaper column.
Death
Wolke died on August 29, 2021, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 93.
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolke, Robert
1928 births
2021 deaths
American food chemists
American food writers
American science writers
Scientists from Pittsburgh
James Beard Foundation Award winners
University of Pittsburgh faculty
Cornell University alumni
People from New York City
Neurological disease deaths in Pennsylvania
Deaths from Alzheimer's disease