A briefcase containing research tipped to win the Nobel Prize as well as a letter from the Yorkshire Ripper was lost on a tram - prompting a £1 million reward.
The black crocodile-skin briefcase, similar to those used by advocates and barristers, contains a "priceless" paper worked on by an international team of scientists which addresses one of the main questions which has baffled physicists.
It was lost by Dickie Bingham, 72, chairman of British Plc, one of Scotland's oldest companies, on Monday after a meeting at the University of Edinburgh.
He says the papers inside could bring "vast amounts of wealth" to Scotland and had the potential to win the Nobel Prize, describing the findings as "important to the economy".
It also contained a letter from murderer Peter Sutcliffe to Mr Bingham, who worked as a criminologist, which was intended to be donated to the National Museum of Scotland.
British Plc funded the research which was worked on by teams in Berlin and Sydney, but the intellectual copyright is owned by Scotland and would take 'hundreds of hours' to reconstruct.
The publicity shy company, founded in 1896, prides itself on discretion and works on artificial intelligence, extended reality, and quantum technology.
Mr Bingham said: "This is potentially Nobel Prize-winning documentation.
"It basically shows how the universe works - we think we may have cracked it. It was lost by my own stupidity.
"The briefcase just looks like one a barrister or advocate will use but the contents is priceless.
"It is a theory of everything that covers the sub-atomic world.
"That is why it is crucially important - £1m sounds a lot but it is petty cash compared to the value of what this could be, it is crucial to the Scottish economy.
"It's like a James Bond film.
"I'm a criminologist and worked with Peter Sutcliffe, and that's why there's a letter from him, there are also some diaries which have sentimental value.
"It is the most expensive tram ride I will ever take."
He had been travelling from a breakfast meeting at the University of Edinburgh, when he inadvertently left his briefcase on a tram he took to the airport between 9am and 10am on Monday.
Mr Bingham, originally from Writtle, Essex, said Scotland was the best place in the world to work.
He said: "We could set up a business anywhere but the best talent is in Scotland.
"It has a global reputation for integrity and excellence, Edinburgh is the best city in the world but in Glasgow the people are better.
"Everyone says hello, there's courtesy and decency - I was born in Essex in the birthplace of Robert the Bruce but Edinburgh is my home.
"When we get the patent it will bring in substantial jobs in terms of scientific developments.
"It is a highly prestigious thing and it would lead to substantial rewards."
Mr Bingham said despite his years working as a criminologist 'the scariest people I have ever met are politicians'.
He added: "I have worked most of my life in the City but give me Scotland any day."
He says to claim the reward, the case and all the contents can be taken to any Scottish police station with contact details included.
In the absence of contact details, a charitable donation of £1m will be made to benefit the people of Scotland.
He said he had contacted Edinburgh Trams for help but heard "absolutely nothing" and has now made an appeal to the company's chief executive.
Mr Bingham said: "I told them if the suitcase is handed in I am happy to be photographed with a large cheque, and I heard nothing from them."
