Every new theory or law must be skeptically and rigorously tested before acceptance. Most fail, and are swept under the rug, even before publication. Others, like the luminiferous ether, flourish for a while, then their inadequacies accumulate till they are intolerable, and they are quietly abandoned when something better comes along. Such mistakes will be found out. There's always someone who will delight in exposing them.
Science progresses by making mistakes, correcting the mistakes, then moving on to other matters.
If we stopped making mistakes, scientific progress would stop. It may be reproduced for non-profit educational purposes, provided it is not altered, and its copyright notice is clearly indicated. The author would appreciate notice of any published or internet uses of this essay, and a copy of the publication in which it is used. When commenting on a specific document, please reference it by name or content. Return to Donald Simanek's page .