Lexicon Labs

Richard Feynman’s Quest for Tuva: An Eccentric Adventure The Spark of an Idea Richard Feynman, celebrated physicist and Nobel Prize winner famously possessed some unique interests that led some some extraordinary adventures. In 1977, during a casual dinner with his friend Ralph Leighton, Feynman reignited his fascination with the land of Tannu Tuva. While Tuva is often associated with Siberia due to its location within Russia, it is situated in southern Central Asia. It lies along the borders of Mongolia and is part of the Russian Federation.  Tuva had first captured Feynman's imagination through its distinctive triangular postage stamps, a rare and curious feature in his childhood stamp collection. What began as a lighthearted conversation quickly evolved into a determined quest to visit this mysterious land. Fig. A typical triangular postage stamp from Tannu Tuva Feynman and Leighton started their quest by learning more about Tuva’s rich culture. They explored its unique lang...