5 ms·
While it is never safe to affirm that the future of Physical Science has no marvels in store even more astonishing than those of the past, it seems probable tha
by adrusi 7y ago
While it is never safe to affirm that the future of Physical Science has no marvels in store even more astonishing than those of the past, it seems probable that most of the grand underlying principles have been firmly established and that further advances are to be sought chiefly in the rigorous application of these principles to all the phenomena which come under our notice. It is here that the science of measurement shows its importance — where quantitative work is more to be desired than qualitative work. An eminent physicist remarked that the future truths of physical science are to be looked for in the sixth place of decimals.
Albert A. Michelson, 1894, just 11 years before Einstein first published about special relativity.
- analog31 7y agoOne thing that's always interested me is that the recent history of breakthroughs doesn't tell you when the next one will arrive. For instance reconciling quantum mechanics and gravity, we don't know if we're within 11 years, 110 years, or even 1100 years!
- Ididntdothis 7y agoIt seems people like newton or Einstein come around every few hundred years. So another huge leap may take a while.
- RosanaAnaDana 7y agoSeems like a good reason to make sure everyone is given the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential. The more we keep ourselves as a species oppressed by one another, the less likely we are to experience the Newtons and Einsteins condemned to rice fields and coal mines.