Examples of when the professional scientists or mathematicians were wrong, but the nonprofessionals were...












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What are the most glaring examples -- if any -- of when the professional scientists or mathematicians were wrong, but the nonprofessionals were right?






mathematicians scientific-method







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    Two things: math was far ahead of nearly all fields of science in its rigor and procedures until relatively recently; and in nearly all cases "nonprofessionals" were right in a tiny percentage of their beliefs. They were correct by accident, not by insight.
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    2 hours ago
















2












$begingroup$


What are the most glaring examples -- if any -- of when the professional scientists or mathematicians were wrong, but the nonprofessionals were right?






mathematicians scientific-method







share|improve this question







New contributor




Seth Rich is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Two things: math was far ahead of nearly all fields of science in its rigor and procedures until relatively recently; and in nearly all cases "nonprofessionals" were right in a tiny percentage of their beliefs. They were correct by accident, not by insight.
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    2 hours ago














2












2








2





$begingroup$


What are the most glaring examples -- if any -- of when the professional scientists or mathematicians were wrong, but the nonprofessionals were right?






mathematicians scientific-method







share|improve this question







New contributor




Seth Rich is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




What are the most glaring examples -- if any -- of when the professional scientists or mathematicians were wrong, but the nonprofessionals were right?






mathematicians scientific-method




mathematicians scientific-method






share|improve this question







New contributor




Seth Rich is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question







New contributor




Seth Rich is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









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Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 10 hours ago









Seth RichSeth Rich

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New contributor




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New contributor





Seth Rich is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Seth Rich is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • $begingroup$
    Two things: math was far ahead of nearly all fields of science in its rigor and procedures until relatively recently; and in nearly all cases "nonprofessionals" were right in a tiny percentage of their beliefs. They were correct by accident, not by insight.
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    2 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Two things: math was far ahead of nearly all fields of science in its rigor and procedures until relatively recently; and in nearly all cases "nonprofessionals" were right in a tiny percentage of their beliefs. They were correct by accident, not by insight.
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    2 hours ago
















$begingroup$
Two things: math was far ahead of nearly all fields of science in its rigor and procedures until relatively recently; and in nearly all cases "nonprofessionals" were right in a tiny percentage of their beliefs. They were correct by accident, not by insight.
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
Two things: math was far ahead of nearly all fields of science in its rigor and procedures until relatively recently; and in nearly all cases "nonprofessionals" were right in a tiny percentage of their beliefs. They were correct by accident, not by insight.
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
2 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

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Just warning not to include pre-1920s medicine (and a lot of medical mantra thru the 20th century), as there was little to no science involved amongst physicians. Just look at how difficult it was for Lister et. al. to convince hospitals, midwives, etc. to wash their hands and sterilize operating theatres.



There are dozens of incorrect anecdotes purporting to show scientists were wrong. The "bumblebee can't fly" is one such. The truth behind the science/engineering theories is rather different.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Take meteorites, for instance. For millennia, educated people “knew” that no rock found on Earth could possibly have fallen from the sky, in spite of the evidence (eyewitnesses included) for their existence. This state of affairs lasted until 1803, when Jean-Baptiste Biot established the reality of meteorites.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$





















      2












      $begingroup$

      It seems ball lightning was disbelieved by scientists until around 1960. See Wikipedia .



      I knew a geologist who told us how his eye-witness account of ball lightning had been ridiculed.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$





















        1












        $begingroup$

        The Green Flash was
        described for the first time (at least in the Western literature) by Jules Verne,
        a science fiction writer.
        Many scientists did not believe until photographs were taken and published.



        Herbert Wells in 1914 described the use of nuclear energy for both bombs and peaceful applications. (His novel The world Set Free). At approximately the same time many scientists thought this was impossible.
        (Rutherford is on record for saying this publicly, that nuclear energy will be never used).






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$













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          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes








          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          2












          $begingroup$

          Just warning not to include pre-1920s medicine (and a lot of medical mantra thru the 20th century), as there was little to no science involved amongst physicians. Just look at how difficult it was for Lister et. al. to convince hospitals, midwives, etc. to wash their hands and sterilize operating theatres.



          There are dozens of incorrect anecdotes purporting to show scientists were wrong. The "bumblebee can't fly" is one such. The truth behind the science/engineering theories is rather different.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$


















            2












            $begingroup$

            Just warning not to include pre-1920s medicine (and a lot of medical mantra thru the 20th century), as there was little to no science involved amongst physicians. Just look at how difficult it was for Lister et. al. to convince hospitals, midwives, etc. to wash their hands and sterilize operating theatres.



            There are dozens of incorrect anecdotes purporting to show scientists were wrong. The "bumblebee can't fly" is one such. The truth behind the science/engineering theories is rather different.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$
















              2












              2








              2





              $begingroup$

              Just warning not to include pre-1920s medicine (and a lot of medical mantra thru the 20th century), as there was little to no science involved amongst physicians. Just look at how difficult it was for Lister et. al. to convince hospitals, midwives, etc. to wash their hands and sterilize operating theatres.



              There are dozens of incorrect anecdotes purporting to show scientists were wrong. The "bumblebee can't fly" is one such. The truth behind the science/engineering theories is rather different.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$



              Just warning not to include pre-1920s medicine (and a lot of medical mantra thru the 20th century), as there was little to no science involved amongst physicians. Just look at how difficult it was for Lister et. al. to convince hospitals, midwives, etc. to wash their hands and sterilize operating theatres.



              There are dozens of incorrect anecdotes purporting to show scientists were wrong. The "bumblebee can't fly" is one such. The truth behind the science/engineering theories is rather different.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 2 hours ago









              Carl WitthoftCarl Witthoft

              1,09246




              1,09246























                  2












                  $begingroup$

                  Take meteorites, for instance. For millennia, educated people “knew” that no rock found on Earth could possibly have fallen from the sky, in spite of the evidence (eyewitnesses included) for their existence. This state of affairs lasted until 1803, when Jean-Baptiste Biot established the reality of meteorites.






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$


















                    2












                    $begingroup$

                    Take meteorites, for instance. For millennia, educated people “knew” that no rock found on Earth could possibly have fallen from the sky, in spite of the evidence (eyewitnesses included) for their existence. This state of affairs lasted until 1803, when Jean-Baptiste Biot established the reality of meteorites.






                    share|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$
















                      2












                      2








                      2





                      $begingroup$

                      Take meteorites, for instance. For millennia, educated people “knew” that no rock found on Earth could possibly have fallen from the sky, in spite of the evidence (eyewitnesses included) for their existence. This state of affairs lasted until 1803, when Jean-Baptiste Biot established the reality of meteorites.






                      share|improve this answer











                      $endgroup$



                      Take meteorites, for instance. For millennia, educated people “knew” that no rock found on Earth could possibly have fallen from the sky, in spite of the evidence (eyewitnesses included) for their existence. This state of affairs lasted until 1803, when Jean-Baptiste Biot established the reality of meteorites.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited 2 hours ago

























                      answered 8 hours ago









                      José Carlos SantosJosé Carlos Santos

                      1,8361426




                      1,8361426























                          2












                          $begingroup$

                          It seems ball lightning was disbelieved by scientists until around 1960. See Wikipedia .



                          I knew a geologist who told us how his eye-witness account of ball lightning had been ridiculed.






                          share|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$


















                            2












                            $begingroup$

                            It seems ball lightning was disbelieved by scientists until around 1960. See Wikipedia .



                            I knew a geologist who told us how his eye-witness account of ball lightning had been ridiculed.






                            share|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$
















                              2












                              2








                              2





                              $begingroup$

                              It seems ball lightning was disbelieved by scientists until around 1960. See Wikipedia .



                              I knew a geologist who told us how his eye-witness account of ball lightning had been ridiculed.






                              share|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$



                              It seems ball lightning was disbelieved by scientists until around 1960. See Wikipedia .



                              I knew a geologist who told us how his eye-witness account of ball lightning had been ridiculed.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered 2 hours ago









                              Gerald EdgarGerald Edgar

                              3,6711617




                              3,6711617























                                  1












                                  $begingroup$

                                  The Green Flash was
                                  described for the first time (at least in the Western literature) by Jules Verne,
                                  a science fiction writer.
                                  Many scientists did not believe until photographs were taken and published.



                                  Herbert Wells in 1914 described the use of nuclear energy for both bombs and peaceful applications. (His novel The world Set Free). At approximately the same time many scientists thought this was impossible.
                                  (Rutherford is on record for saying this publicly, that nuclear energy will be never used).






                                  share|improve this answer









                                  $endgroup$


















                                    1












                                    $begingroup$

                                    The Green Flash was
                                    described for the first time (at least in the Western literature) by Jules Verne,
                                    a science fiction writer.
                                    Many scientists did not believe until photographs were taken and published.



                                    Herbert Wells in 1914 described the use of nuclear energy for both bombs and peaceful applications. (His novel The world Set Free). At approximately the same time many scientists thought this was impossible.
                                    (Rutherford is on record for saying this publicly, that nuclear energy will be never used).






                                    share|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$
















                                      1












                                      1








                                      1





                                      $begingroup$

                                      The Green Flash was
                                      described for the first time (at least in the Western literature) by Jules Verne,
                                      a science fiction writer.
                                      Many scientists did not believe until photographs were taken and published.



                                      Herbert Wells in 1914 described the use of nuclear energy for both bombs and peaceful applications. (His novel The world Set Free). At approximately the same time many scientists thought this was impossible.
                                      (Rutherford is on record for saying this publicly, that nuclear energy will be never used).






                                      share|improve this answer









                                      $endgroup$



                                      The Green Flash was
                                      described for the first time (at least in the Western literature) by Jules Verne,
                                      a science fiction writer.
                                      Many scientists did not believe until photographs were taken and published.



                                      Herbert Wells in 1914 described the use of nuclear energy for both bombs and peaceful applications. (His novel The world Set Free). At approximately the same time many scientists thought this was impossible.
                                      (Rutherford is on record for saying this publicly, that nuclear energy will be never used).







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered 1 hour ago









                                      Alexandre EremenkoAlexandre Eremenko

                                      24.3k13488




                                      24.3k13488






















                                          Seth Rich is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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