Scientists who make a few measurements and immediately deduce that a mystery sickness was caused by a microbe previously unknown to science, and then make an antidote to it, all within a few hours. Or any other "instant science". Gives a completely wrong idea of how science works, the idea that it is all hunch and inspiration - and that a good scientist can always guess the right answer instantly, only slow plodders have to modify their first guesses - no hypotheses or dead ends or false leads, or if there is a false lead, it is one that is very easily proved wrong - and that you can always find answers to the most difficult questions, with almost no data, in hours, not years.
In reality, when you have insufficient data, then you may not know the answer for decades, especially in astronomy where you may depend on someone to build and launch a spacecraft to find out more.
In reality, when you have insufficient data, then you may not know the answer for decades, especially in astronomy where you may depend on someone to build and launch a spacecraft to find out more.
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
4.8m answer views110.3k this month
Top Writer2017, 2016, and 2015
Published WriterHuffPost, Slate, and 4 moreHuffPost, Slate, Forbes, Newsweek, Business Insider, and Science 2.0