Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Apr 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003aps..apr.a1002h&link_type=abstract
American Physical Society, April Meeting, 2003, April 5-8, 2003 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, MEETING ID: APR03, abstract #A1.002
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
New astronomical phenomena frequently are discovered by accident, most often when a powerful new observational instrument is introduced to the field. These newly discovered phenomena rarely have been predicted and seldom are immediately understood. Their underlying physical processes may not fully emerge until decades later, even though a wealth of different ideas and explanations are quickly put forward as soon as the discovery is confirmed. Some of these ideas may eventually prove to be correct, but until then they are of relatively little help. Genuine advances in understanding the most fundamental astronomical and cosmological questions usually come about through the introduction of entirely new theoretical tools, which provide quantitative insight and predict the outcome of observational tests. Once these predictions are fulfilled the community quickly accepts the explanation and incorporates the novel theoretical approach as part of its standard tool kit. The discovery of novel phenomena and the establishment of new theoretical models thus appear to share a common prerequisite -- the introduction of powerful new tools to astrophysics. The talk will feature historical examples in support of this thesis.
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