Comments on: AAS: How astronomers die http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/ The Universe as seen from the perspective of an astronomical researcher, presenter and writer. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:13:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Richard http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-34775 Richard Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:10:12 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-34775 Speaking of astronomers dying, I read an interesting article recently saying that scientists actually MUST die, otherwise we would never make any progress. The argument is that one generation of scientists will never radiacally change its views on a subject, so we need to keep having new generations to keep the new ideas flowing. Take Galileo for instance - nearly all other scientists of his generatiion would not believe his ideas of a Heliocentric Solar System, but the next few generations readily adopted his thinking. Speaking of astronomers dying, I read an interesting article recently saying that scientists actually MUST die, otherwise we would never make any progress.

The argument is that one generation of scientists will never radiacally change its views on a subject, so we need to keep having new generations to keep the new ideas flowing. Take Galileo for instance - nearly all other scientists of his generatiion would not believe his ideas of a Heliocentric Solar System, but the next few generations readily adopted his thinking.

]]> By: astropixie http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-34752 astropixie Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:35:33 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-34752 this talk also presented an interesting lesson in how a catchy title encourages a crowd! i watched most of the talks in the session, but people poured in right at the end to hear about "how astronomers die!" i'd be interested in seeing a collection of statistics regarding observatory-related mishaps! this talk also presented an interesting lesson in how a catchy title encourages a crowd! i watched most of the talks in the session, but people poured in right at the end to hear about “how astronomers die!”

i’d be interested in seeing a collection of statistics regarding observatory-related mishaps!

]]> By: Lintott Lives! at Orbiting Frog http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-32686 Lintott Lives! at Orbiting Frog Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:37:20 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-32686 [...] Chris Lintott, over on his blog, has been reporting from the American Astronomical Meeting (AAS). In one post he has been detailing how astronomers have died over the years (yikes) and generally he has been covering talks which he has attended. Check it out. [...] [...] Chris Lintott, over on his blog, has been reporting from the American Astronomical Meeting (AAS). In one post he has been detailing how astronomers have died over the years (yikes) and generally he has been covering talks which he has attended. Check it out. [...]

]]> By: Alice Sheppard http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-32539 Alice Sheppard Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:17:50 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2008/01/09/aas-how-astronomers-die/#comment-32539 I'm glad you're enjoying your trip and hope you arrive safely back in the UK . . . I’m glad you’re enjoying your trip and hope you arrive safely back in the UK . . .

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