Interesting look at the scientific method

[FloridaJohn]

This weekend I was listening to NPR and happened to hear an interesting story about the scientific method. The story is about how astrophysicists discovered that the galaxies in the universe are accelerating as the universe expands. This was contrary to the current thinking that although the universe is expanding, the rate of expansion should slow down over time due to gravitational forces between the galaxies.

 

The program can be found here, and the really interesting parts starts around 2 minutes into the story through about 8 minutes. The rest is interesting, too, it just doesn't specifically discuss the scientific method in action.

 

As I was listening to the broadcast, it struck me at how logical and methodical the process was. Before the new theory was accepted (and initially it was not), the experiments used to produce the initial discovery were repeated by other scientists. Alternate lines of inquiry, using completely separate methods were tried, and also came to the same conclusions.

 

This is the same thing that was done with the study of climate change, but due to big money's attempts to create uncertainty in the results, there is a lack of understanding on how these conclusions were reached and confirmed. Anyway, it is interesting to see the scientific method at work in other fields, and to see that it does, over time, improve the knowledge base in any particular field. And also how consensus is built in a scientific field.

[CardinalWinds]

Politics and political influence usually have a negative correlation to the pursuit of the scientific method. The goals of each are disparate to one another and their agendas are geared toward vastly different objectives. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people live in the "here and now" and have no interest in how their decisions will affect us even fifty years in the future. So, the majority say to themselves, "What do i care about the climate in 100 years when I won't be around to feel the effects?".

 

Until our species matures enough to give considerations to those that follow, there will be no progress or positive headway made. We are selfish...live for today...and screw our progeny.