To wonder what repectable scientific notions of today....

[RubyGates]

will be laughed at in a hundred year's time?

Things that were believed by scientists in the past:
www.toptenz.net/top-10-most-famous-scientific-theories-that-turned-out-to-be-wrong.php

The "idiots" comment wasn't aimed at you, Avuncular*. I mean the "If we came from monkeys why are there still monkeys?" brigade.

I suppose I would nit-pick the law/theory distinction Ellie. I've always considered a Law to be a description, usually mathematical. I would think of a Theory as a body of evidence that goes some way to explaining a phenomenon.

But when I think about it, what is the difference between Newton's LAW of gravity and Einstein's THEORY of relativity? What makes one a LAW and the other a THEORY? I'm not sure.

< enjoying the fireworks display >

(Tiptoes quietly away to the creation / evolution threads which still seem to be burning nicely)

Oh, and THE BOOK

ICBINEG

Off the top of my head (and a bit of Wiki on Kepler)

Copernicus measures and publishes; Kepler fits some elegant maths ; Newton realises this will enable him to explain gravity, and the 'laws of motion'; then someone (forgotten their names) discovers that the speed of light is constant, whether it's coming to you from the front, side, or going away from you.

Einstein has a bit of a think, which produces special theory of relativity and e=mc2 and a bit of an atomic 'bang'. And explains from 'general relativity' the anomalies in Mercury's orbit (large mass of sun 'distorts' space locally so space-time is bent). Everybody rushes off to South America to observe the next eclipse with Mercury crossing face of sun. Very wet day. Clouds clear for just enough time to make the measurements. Mercury fits Einstein. Drinks all round.

Celebration by dropping atomic bombs on Japan.
Science wins, hooray!

Or something like that ....

The proper study of Mankind is Man - this was published shortly after the unveiling of Darwin's 'Origins' once the debate had hit the street of Britain at the height of the Victorian Industrial Revolution.

Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest

Sorry. Thank's for replying, LeBFG. Had forgotten about this thread

Tis all interesting stuff, that much I think we can ALL agree on!

BBC R4 Thought for the Day 9 Jan - should be available as Podcast later today

Inter alia questions whether, if a being from another planet should find us, would he/she/it consider us to be 'intelligent life'. Wot a thot!

Oh, that's does sound interesting, Avuncular. Will give that a listen :)