Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the heart of our galaxy

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by fasteddie31003 on Thursday May 12, 2022 @10:05AM (#31354392)

Peer reviewed has nothing to do with the scientific method. It is just a layer of scientific bureaucracy. Just give me a calibration image of another celestial body and I'll be happy.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by zenmaster10665 on Thursday May 12, 2022 @11:07AM (#31355283)

this guy astronomies.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by malfist on Thursday May 12, 2022 @12:16PM (#31356249)

You realize peer review isn't just something you do and they automatically publish you, right? Peer review makes sure your science is sound.

But I'm sure you're more of an expert than anybody serving in a peer review board.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by snowwrestler on Thursday May 12, 2022 @01:58PM (#31357709)

Peers review the paper. The purpose of peer review is to ensure that the paper clearly communicates the work of the authors.

In the process of doing so, questions and clarifications may better reveal problems with the underlying science itself, which can result in the paper being withdrawn or declined. But peers don’t independently validate results.

At the same time it should be noted that published criticism has to meet the same bar. “You didn’t do the experiment the way I would have” is not really strong criticism. Experiments or observations can always be done better; this is a central ethos of science.

The strongest criticism is usually to conduct one’s own experiment the way one wants, and then show that it produced better results.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by fasteddie31003 on Thursday May 12, 2022 @12:22PM (#31356312)

Peer review has let plenty of bad science through. Don't burn me at the stake because I speak heresy against the holy theologians of astronomy.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by malfist on Thursday May 12, 2022 @01:19PM (#31357049)

All you're saying is: They're wrong, not gonna say how, but trust me.

Why should I trust you that you know more about astronomy than a team of astronomers and a peer review board?

I've asked you this three times so far and you've not given an answer.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by oldgradstudent on Thursday May 12, 2022 @05:34PM (#31360378)

You might try publishing that comment as a dialog, but try not to ridicule the Pope's position too harshly, though. It didn't end up well for Galileo.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by DiogenesKynikos on Thursday May 12, 2022 @01:04PM (#31356823)

Bad papers do get through, but anything as high-profile as the first image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way will get intense scrutiny.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by JacobThreeThree on Thursday May 12, 2022 @01:21PM (#31357086)

>Peer review makes sure your science is sound

No it doesn't. Most peer review doesn't even attempt to reproduce results, which is the real way to make sure the science is sound.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by pfortuny on Thursday May 12, 2022 @04:04PM (#31359531)

You’re being downvoted for saying exactly what happens in the biological, economical and social sciences… Unbelievable.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the h... by OrderlyTiamat on Thursday May 12, 2022 @05:33PM (#31360374)

I'd just like to disentangle criticisms of the practice of peer review from whether this commenter is an expert or not. The former is valid or invalid irrespective of the latter.

[ Parent | on HN ]