Paradigm Shifts: Brooks talks about 13 things that don't make sense
Sheeraz Hyder
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Campus News
Every day scientists come closer and closer to understanding the universe. However, once in a while, scientists hit a roadblock, something that can't be explained by conventional wisdom. Michael Brooks, a writer for New Scientist, wrote an article on some of these anomalies and decided to convert it into a book: "13 Things That Don't Make Sense." This Wednesday at 4 p.m., The Center for Science Writings hosted a talk by Brooks, who holds a Ph.D. in Physics. Brooks began by saying "it's not the stuff we do understand, it's the stuff we don't" that matters. He started with the challenge of the scientist Cassini.
In 1636, Cassini was the world expert on Jupiter and Director of the Observatory in Italy. His challenge was the anomalous orbit of Io which couldn't be explained by conventional methods. Picard, Cassini's right-hand man, introduced him to Roemer, who theorized that the problem lay not with Io, but with the Earth. Roemer theorized that light, contrary to popular opinion, had a finite speed. Using Cassini's calculations, he worked it out and challenged Cassini. If Roemer was right, then Io would emerge at 5:37. If however Cassini was right and light was infinite, Io would emerge 10 minutes earlier. In the end it emerged at 5:37:49 and even though Roemer was right, Cassini claimed credit since no one made a record. Light was indeed finite and his calculated speed of 299,792,458 m/s is now the accepted value of the speed of light.
Brooks highlighted this by saying that "Science wins in the end" and "the truth will [come] out." He noted that Isaac Asimov said that a key lesson of history was "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...' Brooks shifted gears and talked about Thomas Kuhn's take on scientific revolutions. Kuhn said that they most often start with an anomaly which causes a crisis in the scientific community and eventually once it is accepted, causes a "paradigm shift" in the way science is thought of. Brooks pointed out the numerous precedents, such as Einstein's theory of relativity, Planck's development of quantum theory and the theory of plate tectonics. Each was thought ridiculous at the time but was eventually proven right.
Brooks then asked the audience "What do today's anomalies mean?" Over the next hour Brooks discussed dark energy and dark matter, the acceleration of the universe, the placebo effect, homeopathy, sex and the possibility of intelligent life outside the Earth. He ended by saying with these new anomalies, despite what Simon Newcomb in 1888, Albert Michelson in 1894 and others have said about the "supposed" end of science, "The end of science has been postponed." Brooks ended his talk with a quote by physicist John Archibald Wheeler. Wheeler, head of the Manhattan Project, said "If you haven't found something interesting by the end of the day, it hasn't been much of a day." A question and answer session followed Brooks' talk. Copies of Brooks' "13 Things That Don't Make Sense" were also available for sale.
In 1636, Cassini was the world expert on Jupiter and Director of the Observatory in Italy. His challenge was the anomalous orbit of Io which couldn't be explained by conventional methods. Picard, Cassini's right-hand man, introduced him to Roemer, who theorized that the problem lay not with Io, but with the Earth. Roemer theorized that light, contrary to popular opinion, had a finite speed. Using Cassini's calculations, he worked it out and challenged Cassini. If Roemer was right, then Io would emerge at 5:37. If however Cassini was right and light was infinite, Io would emerge 10 minutes earlier. In the end it emerged at 5:37:49 and even though Roemer was right, Cassini claimed credit since no one made a record. Light was indeed finite and his calculated speed of 299,792,458 m/s is now the accepted value of the speed of light.
Brooks highlighted this by saying that "Science wins in the end" and "the truth will [come] out." He noted that Isaac Asimov said that a key lesson of history was "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...' Brooks shifted gears and talked about Thomas Kuhn's take on scientific revolutions. Kuhn said that they most often start with an anomaly which causes a crisis in the scientific community and eventually once it is accepted, causes a "paradigm shift" in the way science is thought of. Brooks pointed out the numerous precedents, such as Einstein's theory of relativity, Planck's development of quantum theory and the theory of plate tectonics. Each was thought ridiculous at the time but was eventually proven right.
Brooks then asked the audience "What do today's anomalies mean?" Over the next hour Brooks discussed dark energy and dark matter, the acceleration of the universe, the placebo effect, homeopathy, sex and the possibility of intelligent life outside the Earth. He ended by saying with these new anomalies, despite what Simon Newcomb in 1888, Albert Michelson in 1894 and others have said about the "supposed" end of science, "The end of science has been postponed." Brooks ended his talk with a quote by physicist John Archibald Wheeler. Wheeler, head of the Manhattan Project, said "If you haven't found something interesting by the end of the day, it hasn't been much of a day." A question and answer session followed Brooks' talk. Copies of Brooks' "13 Things That Don't Make Sense" were also available for sale.