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Issue 138 "Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress"

From this thesis, the writer believed that only through faults and mistakes, can there be promotion of the old theory. I believe, it is true that new discovery and progress are more likely found through mistake. However, though mistakes show more possibility in new finding, discovery or progress can also be found in other instances.   

Admittedly, from mistakes, it is easier to find the break of old theory. As mistake itself is a proof that shows the limitation that the current evaluation can't include. Such examples are fully filled in scientific history. On the day a young guy found his crystallizing pan were polluted, he didn't through away the waste but put the uncertain object under the constructor for his curiosity. The result showed the crystallite is carbamide, a popular molecule in urea. And that uncertain object is the first synthesis of the organic compound urea. That man is Friedrich Wohler, the first person who broke the scientific thinking of the time, that a product of the living processes of animals could be made in the laboratory from inorganic materials. That mistake opened the door of organic chemistry. Piaril Curier, the father of Radium (Ra. in brief), found the radiological effect on tissue by an accident that he carried a tube of Ra in his chest-pocket for lecture and found a tube-shaped burnt injury on his body. The hurt happened exactly in the position where his chest-pocket was. And his pain reminded him researched on the medical function of radioactive elements. That is the cause of radiotherapy on cancer cells.

However, discovery and progress can also carried on from the current theory. Without the mistakes happened, person can also find the limitation of the theory and break through the current opinion. By analyzing the past record, reviewing the past experience, the shortage of a theory can be found. Take Einstein and his theory for example; by totally understanding the classic physics, he imaged a purity model in which it included the heaviest substance and the lightest photons. He explained the photon's behavior under greatest gravity affection. And bravely claimed that light can bend near the weight gravitational body. Although be misunderstood by other physicists at that time, his hypothesis was soon proved by a total eclipse 4 months later. In short, under proper reasoning other methods, like suppose, can lead to discovery too.           

Moreover, break should base on totally understanding of the old theory. The blind expectation for mistakes happening is silly and unscientific. And the absolute doubts on every existed theory are illogic. In front of mistakes, it is important to keep a positive attitude, a flexible action and keep sensitive for the potential break. Both in mistakes and in correct affairs, new progress can be made. Discovery is found by scientific reasoning and sensitive observation rather than by simply mistake affair itself.


In sum, discovery and progress can be found by recognizing the limitation of the old theory. From mistakes, which always indicate a break of the current value, and we can find new discoveries and progress inside. However, it is unscientific to simply seek the mistake, as it is the scientific faculty, the reasoning and reviewing mind that lead to the creative idea, rather than the sole mistake affairs.

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carbamide urea   
http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~b1beukema/wohler.html
http://shss.sjtu.edu.cn/hst/book1/book1_140.htm


Einstein bent light
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy99/phy99415.htm
http://www.teslasociety.com/einstein.htm
http://www.hyperflight.com/starlight.htm