You don't need a PhD to be a scientist and do real research. You need a PhD to be a tenure-track professor and hold a research position in many industrial labs.

You don't need a PhD to be a scientist and do real research. You need a PhD to be a tenure-track professor and hold a research position in many industrial labs. The education process produces credentials. Curiosity about the world and the courage to ask questions (and lots of math and other technical skills) produce scientists. Same thing for inventors.