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Newton’s apple and other myths about science
A falling apple inspired Isaac Newton’s insight into the law of gravity—or so the story goes. Is it true? Perhaps not. But the more intriguing question is why such stories endure as explanations of how science happens. Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science brushes away popular misconceptions...
Autores principales: | , |
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Lenguaje: | eng |
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Harvard University Press
2015
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Acceso en línea: | http://cds.cern.ch/record/2261369 |
_version_ | 1780954055108984832 |
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author | Numbers, Ronald L Kampourakis, Kostas |
author_facet | Numbers, Ronald L Kampourakis, Kostas |
author_sort | Numbers, Ronald L |
collection | CERN |
description | A falling apple inspired Isaac Newton’s insight into the law of gravity—or so the story goes. Is it true? Perhaps not. But the more intriguing question is why such stories endure as explanations of how science happens. Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science brushes away popular misconceptions to provide a clearer picture of great scientific breakthroughs from ancient times to the present. Among the myths refuted in this volume is the idea that no science was done in the Dark Ages, that alchemy and astrology were purely superstitious pursuits, that fear of public reaction alone led Darwin to delay publishing his theory of evolution, and that Gregor Mendel was far ahead of his time as a pioneer of genetics. Several twentieth-century myths about particle physics, Einstein’s theory of relativity, and more are discredited here as well. In addition, a number of broad generalizations about science go under the microscope of history: the notion that religion impeded science, that scientists typically adhere to a codified “scientific method,” and that a bright line can be drawn between legitimate science and pseudoscience. |
id | cern-2261369 |
institution | Organización Europea para la Investigación Nuclear |
language | eng |
publishDate | 2015 |
publisher | Harvard University Press |
record_format | invenio |
spelling | cern-22613692021-04-21T19:15:48Zhttp://cds.cern.ch/record/2261369engNumbers, Ronald LKampourakis, KostasNewton’s apple and other myths about scienceScience in GeneralA falling apple inspired Isaac Newton’s insight into the law of gravity—or so the story goes. Is it true? Perhaps not. But the more intriguing question is why such stories endure as explanations of how science happens. Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science brushes away popular misconceptions to provide a clearer picture of great scientific breakthroughs from ancient times to the present. Among the myths refuted in this volume is the idea that no science was done in the Dark Ages, that alchemy and astrology were purely superstitious pursuits, that fear of public reaction alone led Darwin to delay publishing his theory of evolution, and that Gregor Mendel was far ahead of his time as a pioneer of genetics. Several twentieth-century myths about particle physics, Einstein’s theory of relativity, and more are discredited here as well. In addition, a number of broad generalizations about science go under the microscope of history: the notion that religion impeded science, that scientists typically adhere to a codified “scientific method,” and that a bright line can be drawn between legitimate science and pseudoscience.Harvard University Pressoai:cds.cern.ch:22613692015 |
spellingShingle | Science in General Numbers, Ronald L Kampourakis, Kostas Newton’s apple and other myths about science |
title | Newton’s apple and other myths about science |
title_full | Newton’s apple and other myths about science |
title_fullStr | Newton’s apple and other myths about science |
title_full_unstemmed | Newton’s apple and other myths about science |
title_short | Newton’s apple and other myths about science |
title_sort | newton’s apple and other myths about science |
topic | Science in General |
url | http://cds.cern.ch/record/2261369 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT numbersronaldl newtonsappleandothermythsaboutscience AT kampourakiskostas newtonsappleandothermythsaboutscience |