Nils Olof Mustelin (11 August 1931 in Turku – 28 April 2004 in Helsinki) was a Finnish professor of physics, noted astronomer, and popular skeptic.
Mustelin was born in Turku (Åbo in Swedish), where he also went to school and attended university. He enrolled at the Åbo Akademi in 1949 and studied physics, graduating as a Ph.D. in 1963. He also studied theoretical physics for two years at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, USA. He worked in many places, including the University of Helsinki; Nordforsk, an institute for technological research collaboration among the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland); Tekes, Teknologian edistämiskeskus ("Center for Advancement of Technology") and COST. After retiring he was a member of the Helsinki city council, representing the Swedish People's Party.
Mustelin was known for his many scientific essays, articles, and books, primarily his astronomic book Liv Bland Miljarder Stjärnor, Civilisationer i Vintergatan och Därbortom? ("Life Among Billions of Stars, Civilizations in the Milky Way and Beyond?"). The book, published in 1978, discussed how life has emerged and evolved on Earth and how life could possibly exist on other planets and outside the solar system. It was translated from Swedish to Finnish, Norwegian, and Danish. He is also famous for inventing tramology (Finnish sporalogia), a parody of astrology based on the scientific fact that trams exert a greater force of gravity on a city's inhabitants than planets because they are so much closer. He was the chairman of Skepsis ry, the Finnish Association of Skeptics, from 1989 to 1992.
Nils Mustelin was an expert on classical music, with vast knowledge about composers, musicians, and various facts, and could identify specific compositions by ear. For example, he memorized the entire catalog of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's work and could name the Köchel number of any of Mozart's compositions. Mustelin often appeared on TV and radio in various panels and competitions related to classical music, physics, mathematics, and astronomy.
Nils Mustelin had four children: Tomas Mikael (1960), Tove Carina (1962), and Tor Niklas (1966), all three with Nina Estelle Mustelin, born Costiander. He had a fourth child, Linda Marina Mustelin with his second wife, Eeva-Riitta Mustelin, née Kurki.
Nils Mustelin died of pancreatic cancer on 28 April 2004.
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Some of their strengths
Nils Mustelin has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Extroverted, Imaginative, Creative, Bold, Confident, and Optimistic.
Bold and Confident
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Nils Mustelin is someone who is a bold, confident, energetic, and optimistic person, who is able to combine personal warmth and charisma with intelligence. A person who sees life as a journey not a destination.
Constant and Serious
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Nils Mustelin well know them as someone who can be determined, unmoving, and firm, like a rock or a high mountain.
Ambitious and Forceful
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Nils Mustelin as someone who is ambitious, hard-working, determined, and intelligent.
A person who has a knack for identifying opportunities, has amazing concentration and focus, who can work independently, who likes starting new things, and who is somewhat of an intellectual.
Communicative and Intelligent
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Nils Mustelin is someone who tends to have a desire to communicate with others, either verbally, through written form, or otherwise, and to have a knack for understanding art, beauty, and aesthetics.
They are also someone who is calm, comforting, and stable, and who loves stability and being a good friend and loyal partner.
Creative and Leadership-oriented
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Nils Mustelin tends to be someone who is a natural leader, with determination, motivational powers, and who takes obligations seriously. Who has charisma, a sense of humor, and who tends to attract attention.
Some of Nils Mustelin's challenges
While Nils Mustelin has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Nils Mustelin can be Arrogant, Status-seeking, Impulsive, Emotional, Standoffish, Careless, and Relentless.
Arrogant and Status-seeking
One of Nils Mustelin's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as arrogant and status-seeking.
Relentless and Inflexible
Nils Mustelin is someone who can be relentless, obsessive, and inflexible, who can be confrontational with work colleagues, can have difficulty communicating feelings and be somewhat reclusive, and who can be self-destructive, overindulgent, and extravagant.
Domineering and Stubborn
Finally, Nils Mustelin also can be too rebellious, not respond to criticism well, and be too emotional and extreme about things.
