5 ms·

https://phys.org/news/2016-07-experimentation-vikings-sunstone.html https://phys.org/news/2016-07-experimentation-vikings-sunsto... "Some historical evidence s

https://phys.org/news/2016-07-experimentation-vikings-sunstone.html https://phys.org/news/2016-07-experimentation-vikings-sunsto... "Some historical evidence such as Icelandic legends have mentioned travel under snowy skies using sunstones and a study of a Viking wreck conducted in 2002 revealed that a crystal (Icelandic spar) had been onboard that was found near other implements used for navigation."

TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
My alternative explanation for this sort of thing is always something like: Maybe the navigator was a hipppie and had crystals and bird feathers on her/his dashboard, probably a mini dream catcher hanging from the rear vision mirror. I think it’s a plausible explanation for a lot of things. Imagine future archeologists unearthing a car found in s remote location and trying to explain the crystals and bird feathers and dream catchers. Are we supposed to believe that no one had trinkets back then. I imagine this is one of those scenarios where people well versed in the field of archeology do an eye-roll when they read a news article pertaining to their expertise. What’s the term for that?
- OscarCunningham 9y ago
  The term is "Gell-Mann Amnesia". More specifically it refers to rolling your eyes as you read an article about your domain of expertise, and then turning the page and assuming the other articles aren't also garbage.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
    That’s the one, thanks.
  - barking 9y ago
    Another variant of this is the type of 'shock' opinion columnist who at least once a week criticises some interest/business sector/profession and has all the answers. It's only when he hits on yours that you realise how maddeningly clueless he is
  - Aardwolf 9y ago
    Oh that must be like a computer professional cringing at a "computer hacking" scene in a movie, but after that having no issues with a (possibly just as cringy to those from such fields) scene in an E.R. room, or a scene with a police investigation, etc...
- Grustaf 9y ago
  It's a less likely explanation when it turns out that the crystal in question actually exists and works, like here.
Luc 9y ago
I have other things to do, but if you look into it you'll find that the 'Viking wreck' surveyed in 2002 was actually not Viking at all, but a British warship. Also, the couple of mentions of a sunstone in the Sagas is when on land, and not for navigation.

TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago

My alternative explanation for this sort of thing is always something like: Maybe the navigator was a hipppie and had crystals and bird feathers on her/his dashboard, probably a mini dream catcher hanging from the rear vision mirror. I think it’s a plausible explanation for a lot of things. Imagine future archeologists unearthing a car found in s remote location and trying to explain the crystals and bird feathers and dream catchers. Are we supposed to believe that no one had trinkets back then. I imagine this is one of those scenarios where people well versed in the field of archeology do an eye-roll when they read a news article pertaining to their expertise. What’s the term for that?

OscarCunningham 9y ago
The term is "Gell-Mann Amnesia". More specifically it refers to rolling your eyes as you read an article about your domain of expertise, and then turning the page and assuming the other articles aren't also garbage.
- TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
  That’s the one, thanks.
- barking 9y ago
  Another variant of this is the type of 'shock' opinion columnist who at least once a week criticises some interest/business sector/profession and has all the answers. It's only when he hits on yours that you realise how maddeningly clueless he is
- Aardwolf 9y ago
  Oh that must be like a computer professional cringing at a "computer hacking" scene in a movie, but after that having no issues with a (possibly just as cringy to those from such fields) scene in an E.R. room, or a scene with a police investigation, etc...
Grustaf 9y ago
It's a less likely explanation when it turns out that the crystal in question actually exists and works, like here.

Luc 9y ago

I have other things to do, but if you look into it you'll find that the 'Viking wreck' surveyed in 2002 was actually not Viking at all, but a British warship. Also, the couple of mentions of a sunstone in the Sagas is when on land, and not for navigation.