Wednesday, September 17, 2008

UEO

Unexplained Exploding Object

Hubble just spotted something, and we don't have a friggin' clue what it is. This is why I like science, they admit they don't know what it is, so rather than make up a story and run with it, they come up with a bunch of stories (or hypothesis) and then here's the nifty part, they test 'em. Whoa. Might have to go ask Phil about this.
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2 comments:

NotZed said...

Except, a story based on a one-off event at an unknown, unreachable location can never be tested. If it turns out to be other than dust on the lens anyway. Even the best model is just a model, and tests against a model demonstrate nothing other than how your model matches your expectations.

But that isn't much different from most of astronomy today; look at pretty pictures and make shit up. And then be 'surprised' when 'something completely unexpected' shows up in the next set of photos.

September 17, 2008 7:35 PM
Kilgore Trout said...

Ummm.... You don't test a model against another model you test it against observation. If it fits then you're probably on to something. Our models are pretty good these days so now even when we are off by the tiniest amounts we get surprised, but when we find out we're wrong then scientists get excited because that means they get to learn more about how the universe works.

Yeah this example is tough because who knows if or when we will ever be able to observe it again. Science isn't perfect, but do you have anything better?

September 18, 2008 10:59 AM

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