From Thales to gravitational waves : the scientific perspective Science has its roots in human curiosity. It is not only an accumulation of knowledge nor the locus of absolute certainties. It is also a process of exploration and research. Today scientific investigation leads to theoretical and technological feats so astonishing that we sometimes lose track of the journey that brought us there. Or we forget what constitutes the very foundations of scientific thought thanks to which Copernicus set the Earth in its right place in our models of the Universe Charles Darwin elucidated the mechanism of the evolution of living species and Albert Einstein brought out the intimate connection between energy space and time. This book is a reliable guide to acquaint oneself with the scientific process. It also constitutes an antidote to the pseudo scientific ramblings that are now contaminating our culture and our reason