OK, So They Got It Wrong!

"Earth Hasn't Moved" - Hipparchus announced on Tuesday that the earth is still at the center of the universe and isn't expected to move anytime soon. This is in distinct contrast to an announcement by Aristarchus of Samos who argued (@200 BCE) that the earth revolved around the sun. What a kook! (100 BCE)

"Earth's Central Status Upheld!" - In a move to drive the last stake through Aristarchus' heart and put his silly notions to rest, Claudius Ptolemaeus (Ptolemy) today published his first major work. In it he puts forth his geocentric Ptolemaic system which describes the movement of celestial bodies. With the earth finally proven to be located at the center of the universe, all we can say is "Sorry, Ari." (140 CE)

"Vitalism Key to Life!" - Claudius Galen, well known dissector of animals, has finally isolated the key to life in humans. Termed "vitalism," it consists of a group of "spirits" located throughout the body. During his investigations, Galen noted "animal spirits in the brain," "vital spirits in the heart," and "natural spirits in the liver." Well, that explains a lot! (160 CE)

Not To Be Outdone

There were a few amazing ideas put forth by our "brightest and best" in later generations, as well:

• Although Copernicus took the earth off its central pedestal, he still thought planetary motion was basically circular. (1543 CE)

• Descartes believed the pineal gland is the center of the human mind and soul. (1639 CE)

• Robert Hooke believed that gravitational attraction varies inversely with distance from the sun. (1679 CE)

• Stahl believed objects burn or rust because they lose a combustible substance he called "phogiston." (@ 1700 CE)

• and finally, Fr. John Needham believed he had proven the existence of spontaneous generation because he identified what he called "animalcules" in meat broth after reheating cooked meat.

Well, Yes and No...

A difference of opinion that is still playing itself out even today is whether light consists of waves or particles. (More on that in a later article.) In 1690, a Dutch fellow named Huygen put forth an argument for waves in his "Treatise on Light." Then in 1704, Newton published his "Optics" in which he postulated that light is made up of particles he called "corpuscles." Our answer to both of them: YUP!

A Little R&D (rumination and discussion):

• So you see, you should not be afraid to try. Take a guess, try it out. Let 'em laugh. That's what the big guys did!

• Then there's modern
  The copyright of the article OK, So They Got It Wrong! in Physics is owned by Linda Bond. Permission to republish OK, So They Got It Wrong! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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