Author: naturistplace

Have any Nobel Prize winners also been naturists?


Oh, yes, absolutely. I know of several. One for sure was Kip Thorne, who shared the prize in physics in 2017 for work on gravitational wave detection.

How do I know about his naturist inclinations? It’s mentioned in an October 1989 issue of California magazine. (Which ceased publication in 1991, and the name was later taken by a different organization.)

Of course, the original article isn’t available online. I bought a newsstand copy, because Kip Thorne was featured on the cover. That was quite interesting to me, since I owned a copy of one of the standard textbooks on general relativity that Thorne co-authored with two other distinguished physicists, John Wheeler and Charles Misner.

The article is actually about Thorne’s work in physics, for which he was already well-known, almost 20 years before his Nobel Prize. Although the article is about his role in physics, it begins with anecdotes about his naturist tendencies. There it mentions a photograph of Thorne displayed on a wall at Caltech (where he worked). The photograph shows him along with other physicists – but he “is the only one not wearing clothes”. And he admits “That’s the way I typically did physics.”

Kip Thorne certainly was not the only Nobel Prize winner with a positive attitude towards nudity and naturism. In most cases, the winners’ attitudes regarding nakedness were probably held privately. But another important case is Bertrand Russell, who won a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 and was hardly silent about the subject. In his 1929 book Marriage and Morals he wrote:

“The taboo against nakedness is an obstacle to a decent attitude on the subject of sex… It is good for children to see each other and their parents naked whenever it so happens naturally. There will be a short period, probably at about three years old, when the child is interested in the differences between his father and his mother, and compares them with the differences between himself and his sister, but this period is soon over, and after this he takes no more interest in nudity than in clothes. So long as parents are unwilling to be seen naked by their children, the children will necessarily have a sense that there is a mystery, and having that sense they will become prurient and indecent. There is only one way to avoid indecency, and that is to avoid mystery.”

And also:

“There are also many important grounds of health in favour of nudity in suitable circumstances, such as out-of-doors in sunny weather. Sunshine on the bare skin has an exceedingly health-giving effect. Moreover anyone who has watched children running about in the open-air without their clothes must have been struck by the fact that they hold themselves much better and move more freely and more gracefully than when they are dressed. The same thing is true of grown-up people. The proper place for nudity is out-of-doors in the sunshine and in the water.”

And then there was the 1938 Nobel Laureate in chemistry, Henry Taube. Although the extent of Taube’s participation in organized nudism/naturism isn’t clear, naked use of his backyard swimming pool was the norm. Among Taube’s friends were four other Nobelists: Paul Berg (Chemistry, 1980), Paul Flory (Chemistry, 1974), Burton Richter (Physics, 1976), and Arthur Schawlow (Physics, 1981). All, including Taube, were Stanford professors and (presumably) had no disapproval of swimming au naturel. (Reference: The Naked Nobel Laureates)

Another Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, the New Zealander Alan MacDiarmid, was also a naturist. See: The Nobel-prize winning naturist – Alan MacDiarmid remembered.

Although he never won a Nobel Prize (or even came close), a physicist who’s name is widely known was an avid naturist. That was Charles Richter, who devised the seismological scale named after him.

More than a few well-known authors of fiction were also avid naturists, though not winners of any Nobel prizes (as far as I know). The list includes Robert Heinlein, in many of whose novels, such as Stanger in a Strange Land, nudity was prominently featured. Late in life he had a home in a small California village, Bonny Doon, just a few miles from the popular Bonny Doon nude beach on the coast.

Then there was John Ball, author of popular detective stories featuring the character Virgil Tibbs, such as In the Heat of the Night. Under the pseudonym Donald Johnson, Ball had a leadership role in organized nudism from the 1950s on. That included editing the nudist magazine Sunshine and Health, being president of the Western Sunbathing Association, and authoring the 1959 book The Nudists. He also owned a very large library of nudist publications and was a co-author of the 1970 sociological study, Nudist Society. Perhaps intentionally, Ball’s strong connection to nudism isn’t mentioned in either his Wikipedia article or New York Times obituary.

Strangely, I haven’t learned of any Nobelists in Peace or Physiology/medicine who may have had naturist tendencies. Surely there must be some. If any readers are aware of other naturist Nobelists, please mention them in the comments.

There are no Nobel Prizes in Mathematics. Albert Nobel, a chemist who invented dynamite, was known to have disdain for the subject of mathematics and didn’t consider it a practical science of benefit (like dynamite!) to humanity. Nobel never married but had at least three (female) romantic partners. Rumor has it that part of his attitude towards mathematics was due to one of his partners having an affair with Swedish mathematician Gösta Mittag-Leffler.

However, Bertrand Russell was not only an outstanding philosopher but also a noted mathematician, who made contributions to mathematical logic and co-authored Principia Mathematica with Alfred North Whitehead.

There were undoubtedly quite a few other outstanding mathematicians who were naturists. Many of the world’s best mathematicians lived in Germany before WW2. Given the popularity of Freikörperkultur (FKK, Free Body Culture) in that period, it’s very likely that quite a few of the best mathematicians were active participants.

Newsworthy Nudity, 2022-3

  1. Soak Au Naturel at 6 Clothing Optional Hot Springs in Colorado (5/14/22)

    There were a number of stories about hot springs in a previous post. But hot springs aren’t as often noticed as good places for naturism as they should be. This article provides information on six examples in Colorado. Some have amenities like traditional naturist parks, while others are rustic, with little more than pleasantly hot water. There are additional hot springs, not listed in the article, that require some hiking to reach.

    Of the places listed in this article, only one is fully clothing-optional and welcomes all naturists: Valley View Hot Springs, which is owned and operated by the Orient Land Trust. However, because of its deserved popularity with naturists and limited facilities, reservations are required for a visit. There’s more information here.

    Three other places welcome all naturists, but clothing-optional use is disallowed in some pools or during certain times or days. (As a concession to non-naturists, especially those with children.) Those places are Orvis Hot Springs (more here), Strawberry Park Hot Springs (more here), and Dakota Hot Springs (more here). Note that rules are subject to change.

    Two other places may be problematic for naturists. Indian Hot Springs requires suits in its main indoor pool. Other pools are either hourly rentals or inside caves and separate for men and women. Naturists may want to avoid one other place, Desert Reef Hot Springs, because of its numerous finicky policies for clothing-optional use, where non-member single, unaccompanied males are disallowed.

  2. Colorado Hot Springs Where You Can Be Legally Naked (7/29/22)

    This is a single long page, and most of the hot springs listed are described in the preceding article. However, there are good maps for all of the listings. One place included, Conundrum Hot Spring (more here), requires an 18-mile out-and-back trail to reach, and there are no facilities. Clothing-optional use is also said to be “iffy”. Also, at the bottom of the page, there are a lot of rude and irrelevant Google “reviews” of Colorado’s “Garden of the Gods”.

    One other place listed is a full-fledged naturist resort, Mountain Air Ranch, which is the state’s only actual naturist resort. It was established in 1935, making it one of the oldest naturist parks in the country that’s still in operation. But it doesn’t have any natural hot springs. Here’s another article about it: Mountain Air Ranch Lays Bare the Benefits, Challenges of a Nudism Club.

  3. Hike to 6 of Colorado’s Free Hot Springs (9/12/22)

    In case you are up for challenging hikes, here’s information about six possibilities in Colorado. Two of them actually require only a short stroll. Clothing is said to be optional at four of the places, but required at two others. However, much depends on who else may be present at a particular time, so ask if you find only clothed users. (They might even be tempted to strip off.) The distances listed below are all round-trip. A web search will give lots more information about each place if you want to visist.

    Hot springs that may be clothing-optional, in order of accessibility

    1. South Canyon Hot Springs – .2 mile; map
    2. Piedra River Hot Springs – 3.4 miles; map
    3. Rainbow Hot Springs – 10 miles; map
    4. Conundrum Hot Springs – 18 miles; map

    Hot springs probably not clothing-optional, in order of accessibility

    1. Penny Hot Springs – 0 miles; map
    2. Radium Hot Springs – 1.4 miles; map

  4. Are There Any Nudist Colonies in Colorado? (9/26/22)

    Whoever chose that headline probably isn’t a good source of information on naturism. “Colony” is and always has been a condescending, derogatory term for naturist parks and resorts. But that’s not an atypical attitude on the websites of FM radio stations.

    Mountain Air Ranch, which was mentioned above, is the only naturist resort in Colorado, but it’s a very good one, having been in operation since 1935. About it this article says: “the clubhouse and pool are where most of the recreational activities take place, but there’s also an exercise room, miles of trails, an ice cream parlor, as well as the Bikini Bar and Grill.”

    The only problem with it, perhaps, is that it’s located on the southern outskirts of Denver. However, most of the developed and primitive hot springs discussed above are in the western part of the state, so a trek over the mountains will be required to visit them. The most accessible developed springs is Dakota Hot Springs in Penrose, “only” 100 miles south, but on mostly good roads on the east side of the mountains.

  5. Getting Naked with Strangers in Germany’s Baden-Baden (1/28/22)

    Well-known travel writer Rick Steves visited the Baden-Baden spa resort in southern Germany. (“Baden” is “to bathe” in German.) There he saw “more naked people in two hours than many Americans see in their entire lives.” Baden-Baden has been a popular place to soak in hot water at least since ancient Roman times. Steves avers that “Americans who can’t handle nudity don’t know what they’re missing.”

    Steves describes his spa experience in some detail. It includes an initial “industrial-strength” shower, a very hot sauna. a very vigorous massage, a series of mixed-gender soaking pools, and concludes in a “quiet room” for deep relaxation. All while entirely naked. Even up-tight Americans present can realize that any kind of bathing attire would be entirely superfluous. After all, everyone is preoccupied with their own sensations rather than anyone else’s naked body. Wearing anything when bathing alone would make no sense. And that’s just the same in this context, despite the presence of others.

  6. Nudist RV resorts more popular among RVers than you’d think (10/28/22)

    Unless someone’s entirely new to RVing, they’ve probably stayed at a few or many RV resorts. There are other possibilities, such as “boondocking” by visiting some remote place in the middle of nowhere, without hook-ups or anyone else around. In the latter case, wearing clothes could be purely optional. However, for most non-naturists, their experience usually has been with traditional RV resorts.

    Anyone who hasn’t tried naturism, but isn’t “offended” by others’ nudity – such as at clothing-optional beaches – should consider visiting an actual naturist resort that welcomes RVs. That’s a great way to learn about naturism in a very safe environment. If you’re already a naturist, invite other RVers you know to go with you to a naturist RV resort. They might discover being pleasantly surprised to enjoy “the opportunity to exit [their] RV without any clothes on.” And why not? After all, people there usually aren’t wearing anything.

    Most clothing-optional RV resorts aren’t strictly for RVers. Instead, they also welcome anyone who enjoys nonsexual social nudity – day visitors, tent campers, van campers, or vacationers staying at indoor accommodations. Many consider themselves naturists or nudists. But some just like being naked, and that’s fine, as long as traditional naturist norms are respected (i.e. no open sexuality).

    The article here gives many more details about what naturist RV resorts are like, although there’s plenty of diversity. But if you’ve visited some or many RV resorts, the only thing different about the naturist ones is that you don’t need to wear anything unless you want to. A naturist couple now living at Laguna del Sol, near Sacramento, California, describes their own personal experiences with it. From my own experience, it’s a great place.

  7. 17 Nudist RV Parks in the U.S. For Your Next Trip (6/28/22)

    Although the article’s title is reasonable, the term “colonies” is used several times – which is offensive to both nudists and (especially) naturists. If you’re an experienced nudist/naturist, you know that there are far more than 17 developed places to spend time clothesfree. AANR has 180 affiliated clubs, although some are non-landed, meaning they host naturist activities in suitable places but don’t actually own land.

    Note that many places that do own land don’t necessarily have facilities for RVs. They may lack hook-ups or parking spaces for large RVs. If you do need such facilities, the list here is useful. But you can check out places that may be closer to you in the AANR directory to determine whether they’d be suitable for your needs.

    Strangely, most places listed in the article are in the western half of the country (including Texas). Not surprisingly, Florida has a large number of nudist/naturist resorts, though only 3 are listed here. But there are also many places in the mid-Atlantic states, from North Carolina up to Pennsylvania. If you happen to be relatively new to naturism, you should be aware that some places have special requirements for first-time visitors. Before visiting any place for the first time, calling in advance is a very good idea. Even if they welcome first-timers, they may have special events or few unreserved spots for large RVs, so making a reservation is also a good idea.

  8. A liberating high comes with group nudity at Dark Mofo – it can turn anyone into a giggling fool (6/22/22)


    Hobart is the capital city of Australia’s Tasmania island state. It’s about as far south of the equator as Portland, Oregon is north. So winters there are usually sort of chilly. South of the equator the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, is in June, so the time doesn’t seem especially ideal for walking naked into the ocean at sunrise. That, however, is exactly what about 2000 naked people, in Hobart for the annual Dark Mofo music festival, did. (2000 people is just a bit less than half the entire membership of the Naturist Society.) This fully naked ocean dip is actually a yearly tradition at the festival’s end.

    Sian, one of the 2000, says “there is a uniquely liberating high in group nudity”. Why would anybody who’s not stoned on some illegal substance do such a thing? She later explains “we’re free and doing something silly in the name of art and something primal none of us could name.” Naturists actually understand pretty well from personal experience. Most, however, would prefer having the experience under more temperate conditions.

  9. How to Feel Better Naked (6/17/22)

    Most people generally eschew completely exposing their bodies for various reasons. Naturists have dealt with such concerns and overcome them. But they’re also in a good position to assure others who might be interested in naturism that nudity is quite pleasurable – so fretting about their body’s appearance shouldn’t deter anyone from naturism. Wearing clothes is often required or sensible, but otherwise going naked should be just fine. Not really different from wearing shoes or going barefoot. Nudity is just going barefoot all over.

    People use various faulty excuses for balking at being fully naked unless they must be. One very common concern is the appearance of their naked body. Cultural “beauty” standards are at the root of this. Is one’s body too fat or too thin? Are some parts out of the “right” proportion with other parts? Are there too many wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, or other imperfections? Does one’s body simply not look as “good” as it seemed at an earlier age? These issues affect how people feel about their own bodies and how they think others will judge them.

    The article here suggests how to alleviate such concerns by taking four specific steps.

    1. Spend more time naked
    2. Focus on how your body feels
    3. Ask yourself: Am I avoiding being naked?
    4. Surround yourself with images of different body types

  10. One Woman’s Wholesome Mission to Get Naked Outside (6/13/22)

    Like most people, the anonymous writer of this article never seriously considered going naked outdoors, even in remote places seldom visited by most people. Never, that is, until “years ago” (the article was written when she was only in her late 30’s) on a backpacking trip to Conundrum Hot Springs she was aware that the springs were clothing-optional, so she “rallied everyone to get in naked.” She proceeded to strip off before entering the water and expected her friends to do likewise. But none did. Understandably, she “wouldn’t disrobe again in public for years.”

    However, at least a decade later, her boyfriend was talking about how he modeled naked for a college newspaper article. He and other friends had also bragged about adventures like skiing and mountain biking naked, and the writer admired them for being “less inhibited, so comfortable in their own skin.” So allowing irrational fears of nudity to be in control seemed wrong, and she resolved to become “one of those naked people”.

    It needn’t happen overnight. For most people, becoming comfortable going naked openly may best be done gradually. “A lifetime of prudishness would not be undone overnight.” So, with her boyfriend, it was agreed that “I should design a training plan of sorts, progressing from a beginner-level warm-up (bathe in a nude hot spring?) to some intermediate challenge (wander around unclad at a clothing-optional resort?) and eventually to a graduation exercise (a naked ski or bike ride?). I would become one of those people I had always admired. I would become someone who does naked stuff outside.”

Bonus from earlier:

How To Feel Comfortable Naked Every Day (6/26/16)

A couple of the articles above address getting used to allowing other people, who may be complete strangers, to see you naked. There are many ways to enjoy naturism – camping, hiking, exploring hot springs, visiting naturist resorts, or simply being naked at home. But you won’t be able to enjoy any of that unless you overcome fears of being seen with nothing on.

If you’re naked around friends or relatives there’s not much to be concerned about – provided they’re willing to accept your nudity. Getting used to you wearing nothing may take time, but they’ll come around soon enough if they respect you and you explain your reasons for being naked. Being naked around strangers needn’t be any different, assuming they expect to see nudity, such as in an art class with nude model(s), in a naked yoga class, or at a nude beach. (Obviously, going naked is risky anywhere nudity isn’t expected, although nudity may be legal and possibly OK in little-used hiking and camping places.)

[Tip 1: If someone you know is uncomfortable with your nudity, try wearing just the minimum they can accept. Before long they may relent and decide you needn’t bother wearing anything.]

[Tip 2: Invite the uncomfortable person to accompany you somewhere nudity is acceptable, such as an art class or nude beach. If your nudity’s OK there, why not somewhere more private?]

Two points from this article are worth noting if you’re the one who wants to be comfortable naked. First, you should fully accept your body just as it is. While “improving” it sometimes is possible, or even worthwhile for health reasons, that’s usually difficult and takes time. But if you want to enjoy nudity, don’t put off accepting your body as it is right now.

Second, the best way to do that is to be naked as much of the time as is physically comfortable while you’re alone or with people who won’t mind. Be naked for an hour or more every day that’s possible. And don’t be afraid to look at your naked body in a mirror. Once you’ve been naked for an hour a few times, why stop without a good reason? As the article says, “You may feel uncomfortable at first (or you may love it!), either way step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself to bare your body to the world.”

[If you’re already comfortable being naked, offer the advice above to others you know who might be interested. The world desperately needs more naked people.]