I've always read that Einstein thought black holes were impossible and that Hawking proved they could exist.
THE Greatest Scientific Mind Of Our Age
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I've always read that Einstein thought black holes were impossible and that Hawking proved they could exist.
That hardly seems like a fair criticism against Einstein, it's like blaming any notable scientists living in the 17th century for saying it's impossible to travel to the moon. From their POV they'd be correct, Hawking had more information and resources on how the universe works that was built on Einstein's theories to prove black holes exist.
Put anyother way, Einstein saying they couldn't they exist lead the way to proving they could.
Einstein had a philosophical issue with quantum mechanics which was a definite failure of his. He had a philosophical need for an ordered, predictable universe in which there was no uncertainty. He put his philosophy ahead of objective evidence - even the predictions of his own theory. I think if it had been anyone but Einstein, he would have been discredited in disgrace. Of course, it WAS Einstein and his prior accomplishments earned him quite a bit of slack.
Einsteins example is an excellent demonstrator of the objectiveness and self-correction inherent in the scientific method. Einstein was about as close to a scientific Saint as anyone could get but while that shielded him from ridicule, it didn't help him in his holy campaign against quantum mechanics. The facts won out.
Hawking did not prove black holes could exist. The reality of black holes was pretty much a given by his time. Hawking showed that black holes can lose mass and evaporate.
Einsteins example is an excellent demonstrator of the objectiveness and self-correction inherent in the scientific method. Einstein was about as close to a scientific Saint as anyone could get but while that shielded him from ridicule, it didn't help him in his holy campaign against quantum mechanics. The facts won out.
Hawking did not prove black holes could exist. The reality of black holes was pretty much a given by his time. Hawking showed that black holes can lose mass and evaporate.
I thought, for sure, someone would have mentioned Bill Nye.
Professor Beakman was more my speed
Roger Penrose -- Ed Witten has realised that Penrose's twistor space may be the way forward for string theory. If that doesn't work out, there's Penrose's spin networks as applied in loop quantum gravity.
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/09/71828
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/09/71828
Yeah really, since mathematics, by the most accurate definition, is not a science.
(some say it's a formal investigation of relationships between abstract concepts through a rigorous process of necessities. I just say it's a mental illness with beautiful consequences.)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics#cite_note-3
Mouse over the comic.Yeah really, since mathematics, by the most accurate definition, is not a science.
I'm going to say Doctor Emmet Brown. He invented the Time Machine in the 80's.
His shady dealings with Libyan terrorists sort of tarnish his legacy.
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