Science

Scientific “Correctness” vs. Scientific Progress

July 9, 2019 May 16, 2020 / By James L. Patterson

I came across the following brief 8-minute video and accompanying article shortly after my last post on Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The writer does a very good job of eloquently explaining how scientific “correctness” impedes scientific progress, thereby dovetailing and supporting the very behaviors (and dangers/risks) that are outlined in Kuhn’s book. In this context “scientific correctness” refers to the scientific establishment’s adherence to the dominant paradigms at the exclusion of all other …

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Microscope photo by felixioncool from Pixabay

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions – Thomas Kuhn (Science Doesn’t Work The Way You Think It Does)

May 2, 2019 June 9, 2021 / By James L. Patterson

How does the general public think Science operates? How is it performed? How does it progress? How do working scientists assist and enable progression into revised and new theories over time? The Misconception Most laity and fans of science typically think of science this way: It’s an objective search for truth and reality of all things in nature and the universe. It adheres strictly to the Scientific Method and yields results leading to welcomed changes, …

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2017 Solar Eclipse - Photo by Drew Rae from Pexels

Total Solar Eclipse – August 2017

January 22, 2019 May 16, 2020 / By James L. Patterson

Since I just posted about this week’s Lunar Eclipse, I may as well also post about our 2017 Total Solar Eclipse experience. The United States was treated to a rare opportunity to see a total solar eclipse as it traveled across the continent on August 21, 2017. I promised myself when I was a kid while watching the 1970 eclipse on TV, that I would make a point of directly experiencing the totality of the …

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Total Lunar Eclipse – January 2019

January 22, 2019 May 18, 2020 / By James L. Patterson

Sunday night January 20, 2019 we were treated to relatively clear skies in Louisville, KY for a total lunar eclipse. I stepped outside into the frigid cold before midnight to have a look just prior to, and into the time of totality. What a beautiful red hue this magical orb took on! It was called a “super blood wolf moon eclipse.” I don’t yet have my recently-purchased (used) Meade LX200 Classic 10-inch telescope up and …

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What is Science?

January 30, 2017 May 21, 2020 / By James L. Patterson

I originally wanted to start the “Science” category with a short series of posts discussing some very basic introductory concepts to serve as a baseline/reference for future discussion. However, I happened to be in the middle of some great research involving the helical motion of the solar system, so I chose to grab the fire while it was burning and go ahead with that article first. So, stepping back a bit to address the basics …

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Galactic plane at about 60-degrees to the ecliptic - Photo by Hristo Fidanov from Pexels

Helical Solar System Motion Through the Galaxy: Heretical Revelation or Well-known Fact? – Part 2

January 16, 2017 March 10, 2020 / By James L. Patterson

Part 1 can be found here Summary of Part 1 So . . . . in a similar manner to my experience, we have someone (DjSadhu) discover a fact that: was never before shared with him in any form (school, documentaries, books, web sites, etc.), and was a revolutionary idea totally different from what he did learn, so he had to share his “aha” moment with others. Unlike me (no video animation expertise) DjSadhu produces …

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Galactic plane at about 60-degrees to the ecliptic - Photo by Frank Cone from Pexels

Helical Solar System Motion Through the Galaxy: Heretical Revelation or Well-known Fact? – Part 1

December 22, 2016 March 10, 2020 / By James L. Patterson

An instinctive visualization? Based on science classes in school, books we’ve seen, images online, and even TV documentaries, most of us (laypersons) visualize the Solar System something like this or this. We are taught the planets circle the sun in elliptical orbits at various distances and speeds, and for the most part the orbits are very nearly in the same flat, geometric plane (Pluto being the obvious exception) . Through life we end up carrying …

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What is Knowledge Adventuring?

January 27, 2016 May 26, 2020 / By James L. Patterson

If I had to identify the most critical element of the shaping of my life and persona, it has to be my passion for the pursuit of truth/accuracy/reality. At first I thought this was something that came about in my thirties. However, over the years in doing various exercises to identify my true mission and purpose in life, I realize I’ve always been hugely concerned with identifying, understanding and conveying what was truthful and accurate …

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