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The nobel prize is granted for discoveries that advance human knowledge. Whether that discovery is through chance, sheer hardwork or some linear combination, wh

The nobel prize is granted for discoveries that advance human knowledge. Whether that discovery is through chance, sheer hardwork or some linear combination, what matters is the discovery. It is not not disputed (by anyone) that the discovery was important here. The theory of the Cosmic microwave background was already out there -- it just needed someone to confirm the theory ! One could argue that the microwave background radiation was discovered precisely by the nobel winning experimenters because they refused to explain away the "noise". They were persistent and kept trying to eliminate possible sources of this noise. Perhaps other similar horn antennae had the same noise but this noise was just explained away by the other experimentalist as being an artifact of the equipment ? One may never know. Lastly, it has been my experience that luck seems to strike competent and fastidious researchers more often than average ones.

ioblomov 3y ago
Here, here. We take it for granted now, but even such things as HBO’s white-noise intro, the echoes of creation, is a cultural artifact of their tenacious attention to detail.
sizzzzlerz 3y ago
Let's suppose for reasons of this discussion, that Bell labs had assigned a junior engineer to determine how noise was getting into the antenna, not a couple of PhD's who were well along in their careers. Further, let's also assume that, through sheer hard work, some innate brilliance, and maybe some consultations with his mentors, this engineer arrived at the same discovery. Do you think that he would be awarded a Nobel Prize or would he be ignored because he doesn't sport the right credentials?
- otteromkram 3y ago
  Not a scientist chiming in, but I'd guess that the project had "lead" scientists who set everything up for the antenna experiment and any data from the junior scientist (what I think you meant) would need to be vetted and still fall under the purview of the lead(s).

ioblomov 3y ago

Here, here. We take it for granted now, but even such things as HBO’s white-noise intro, the echoes of creation, is a cultural artifact of their tenacious attention to detail.

sizzzzlerz 3y ago

Let's suppose for reasons of this discussion, that Bell labs had assigned a junior engineer to determine how noise was getting into the antenna, not a couple of PhD's who were well along in their careers. Further, let's also assume that, through sheer hard work, some innate brilliance, and maybe some consultations with his mentors, this engineer arrived at the same discovery. Do you think that he would be awarded a Nobel Prize or would he be ignored because he doesn't sport the right credentials?

otteromkram 3y ago
Not a scientist chiming in, but I'd guess that the project had "lead" scientists who set everything up for the antenna experiment and any data from the junior scientist (what I think you meant) would need to be vetted and still fall under the purview of the lead(s).