Time-Travel for Science Revolutions Inseparability of Science History and Discovery

A recurrent theme of science fiction is to travel backward in time to change the present by correcting errors or events in the past. While physical time-travel is impossible, through an understanding of science history, one can progress backward in time, in a manner of speaking, to discover, and then to correct, major science blunders which underpin and pose impediments to much of present-day geo- and space science.

Galileo Galilei, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein revolutionized science by discovering that ideas from the past were less than correct. In a paper published on April 12, 2010, in History of Geo- and Space Sciences, an open-access Copernicus Journal, J. Marvin Herndon discloses a methodology of using under-appreciated science history as a “time-machine” to discover fundamental science flaws so as to correct them.

Science is very much a logical progression through time. Progressing along a logical path of discovery is rather like following a path through the wilderness. Occasionally the path splits, presenting a choice; the correct logical interpretation leads to further progress, the wrong choice leads to confusion and brings the logical progression to a screeching halt.

By considering deeply the relevant science history, one might begin to recognize past faltering in the logical progression of observations and ideas and, perhaps then, to discover new, more precise understanding. Herndon describes from a historical perspective the following specific examples of science faltering: (1) Composition of the Earth’s inner core; (2) Giant planet internal energy production; (3) Physical impossibility of Earth-core convection and Earth-mantle convection, and; (4) Thermonuclear ignition of stars.

For each example of faltering, Herndon describes the correction and presents new, revised logical progressions, leading, respectively, to: (1) Understanding the endo-Earth’s composition; (2) The concept of nuclear georeactor origin of geo- and planetary magnetic fields; (3) The invalidation and replacement of plate tectonics; and, (4) Understanding the basis for the observed distribution of luminous stars in galaxies. The corrections and revised logical progressions, all published in world-class, peer-reviewed, scientific literature, clearly show the inseparability of science history and discovery.

In addition, Herndon reveals a different and more fundamental approach to making scientific discoveries than the frequently discussed variants of the scientific method: “An individual ponders and through tedious efforts arranges seemingly unrelated observations into a logical sequence in the mind so that causal relationships become evident and new understanding emerges, showing the path for new observations, for new experiments, for new theoretical considerations, and for new discoveries. Science history is rich in seemingly unrelated observations just waiting to be logically and causally related to reveal new discoveries.”

This is time-travel at its best.

Freely down load Herndon’s History of Geo- and Space Sciences paper, “Inseparability of Science History and Discovery” from Copernicus Journals at:
http://www.hist-geo-space-sci.net/1/25/2010/hgss-1-25-2010.pdf or from NuclearPlanet.com (click here for pdf).

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