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Can you tell me the origin of this scientist story?
I recall a story about a scientist who worked for 50 years to develop a theory. The entire world thought it was true, and he was known throughout the world. Then, another scientist disproved his theory with one experiment. The old scientist approached him and shook his hand, ecstatic that his theory was disproved and that science would be furthered. Can you tell me who these people are and when it happened? I am rather sure it is a true story.
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Such an exchange is believable, but the variables don't really mesh. The closest thing I can think of is the steady state theory of the universe versus the big bang theory, but Fred Hoyle took his disagreement to the grave. I did some quick Google searches on notable scientists from the past 300 years, but no joy. I did however learn that some people supposedly wouldn't shake hands with Heisenberg.
If this actually did happen, I'm reasonably sure it would have to be something relatively minor and not known throughout the world.
If this actually did happen, I'm reasonably sure it would have to be something relatively minor and not known throughout the world.
Voted as best: interzone
Voted "No best answer": philipy,
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While it may well have happened, it would also be quite rare. More common is the normal human response in any field, fighting for the point of view you've long held well beyond any point of reason. Of which Einstein refusing to believe major parts of quantum mechanics would be a prime example. And Fred Hoyle would be a good example too. Of course being very bright people, they're able to come up with extremely clever objections to theories they don't like, like the famous EPR paradox.
Sorting all those objections out takes quite a bit of time, which means there is rarely one single moment or one single experiment which switches the accepted theory from X to Y.