What Is Life? published in 1944. At that time DNA was not yet accepted as the carrier of hereditary information, which only was the case after the Hershey–Chase experiment of 1952. One of the most successful branches of physics at this time was statistical physics, and quantum mechanics, a theory which is also very statistical in its nature. Schrödinger himself is one of the founding fathers of quantum mechanics. Max Delbrück's thinking about the physical basis of life was an important influence on Schrödinger. However, long before the publication of "What is Life?", geneticist and 1946 Nobel-prize winner H. J. Muller had in
Mediterranean Institute of Fundamental Physics goal of MIFP is the creation of an environment for fruitful research activities, decreasing the amount of administrative and logistics problems for the members of the Institute, providing flexible management, promotion of fundamental physics in the Mediterranean region, sponsoring the collaboration projects in physics across Europe, although it stays open for any offers from all continents. MIFP promotes the high-school teaching programs in physics. The Institute organizes the International Conferences on Physics of Light-Matter Coupling in Nanostructures and International Schools on Nanophotonics and Photovoltaics. Members can request management assistance from MIFP for grant applications/organization of events or any other collaboration.