What I learned as a hired consultant to autodidact physicists

Re:What I learned as a hired consultant to autodidact physic... by nine_k on Friday August 12, 2016 @11:12AM (#12276335)

The space of possible experiments is enormous. If someone takes time to find a conclusion that the theory predicts from the first principles but for which experimental data are lacking, may it be somehow valuable? Especially if the theoretically predicted effect is somehow interesting.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:What I learned as a hired consultant to autodidact physic... by Retric on Friday August 12, 2016 @01:57PM (#12277507)

The goal is to disprove theory's not to validate them. Remember any valid counter example can disprove a trillion pieces of supporting evidence.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/03/upshot/a-quick...

You can always over fit for existing data. Useful theory's should suggest a novel experiments to test them.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:What I learned as a hired consultant to autodidact physic... by nine_k on Sunday August 14, 2016 @12:07AM (#12284232)

The experimental data may prove or disprove a theory. But when it's lacking, there's no way to tell. So finding areas where experiments were not made, but can be made, and where the theory predicts some clear results, can serve as a means of falsification.

[ Parent | on HN ]