Top Ten Science Predictions that Did NOT come true

[HOZ]

Top Ten Science based predictions that didn’t come true:
10. “The earth’s crust does not move”- 19th through early 20th century accepted geological science. See Plate Tectonics
9. “The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives.” — Admiral William Leahy, U.S. Atomic Bomb Project
8. “That virus is a cat.” — Dr. Peter Duesberg, molecular-biology professor at U.C. Berkeley, on HIV, 1988
7. “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
6. “Radio has no future. Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. X-rays will prove to be a hoax.” — William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, British scientist, 1899.
5. “There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will.” — Albert Einstein, 1932
4. “Space travel is bunk.” — Sir Harold Spencer Jones, Astronomer Royal of the UK, 1957 (two weeks later Sputnik orbited the Earth).
3. “If I had thought about it, I wouldn’t have done the experiment. The literature was full of examples that said you can’t do this.” — Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M “Post-It” Notepads.
2. “Stomach ulcers are caused by stress” — accepted medical diagnosis, until Dr. Marshall proved that H. pylori caused gastric inflammation by deliberately infecting himself with the bacterium.
1. “Telltale signs are everywhere —from the unexpected persistence and thickness of pack ice in the waters around Iceland to the southward migration of a warmth-loving creature like the armadillo from the Midwest. Since the 1940s the mean global temperature has dropped about 2.7° F.” — Climatologist George J. Kukla of Columbia University in Time Magazine’s June 24th, 1975 article Another Ice Age?


So the next time you hear about worldwide crop failure, rising sea levels, species extinction, or “climate grief” you might want to remember that just being an expert, or even having a consensus of experts, doesn’t necessarily mean that a claim is true.

[Hack&Lube]

What does "That virus is a cat" mean???

[4X4]

1. “Telltale signs are everywhere —from the unexpected persistence and thickness of pack ice in the waters around Iceland to the southward migration of a warmth-loving creature like the armadillo from the Midwest. Since the 1940s the mean global temperature has dropped about 2.7° F.” — Climatologist George J. Kukla of Columbia University in Time Magazine’s June 24th, 1975 article Another Ice Age?

Good thing we've finally figured out climate change. Amazing that it only took 33 years!!1!

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by 4X4

1. “Telltale signs are everywhere —from the unexpected persistence and thickness of pack ice in the waters around Iceland to the southward migration of a warmth-loving creature like the armadillo from the Midwest. Since the 1940s the mean global temperature has dropped about 2.7° F.” — Climatologist George J. Kukla of Columbia University in Time Magazine’s June 24th, 1975 article Another Ice Age?

Good thing we've finally figured out climate change. Amazing that it only took 33 years!!1!

wonder what they'll be saying about us 33 years from now,

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Dan02

wonder what they'll be saying about us 33 years from now,

It's not what they'll be saying about us, it's what we'll be saying about them...: The world is going to hell in a handbasket, I tells ya! Ruffians and scallawags!

[Flames89]

So if we were wrong before, that means we are wrong now?

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What does "That virus is a cat" mean???

I second that. Or maybe that science is just over my head.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by Flames89

So if we were wrong before, that means we are wrong now?

Maybe they are right and we're wrong. Or they are right until it changes. Or we're right until it changes. Or it will change. Or it wil be mild.


Like a frigg'n weather forecast

[tkflames]

Clearly this means we have avoided another ice age through our excessive use of fossil fuels!!!! Congratulations all that gas guzzle...you have saved the planet!

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What does "That virus is a cat" mean???

don't know that specific term, but Peter Duesberg is an HIV-denier

edit. the forum editted out p u s s y cat; Duesberg is basically saying that HIV is harmless; he is the single loudest voice in the camp that says HIV does not cause AIDS

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What does "That virus is a cat" mean???

I think the original quote was talking about how HIV mutates itself to fend against possible vaccines, hence having nine lives.

Some of those quotes are really taken out of context. I'm pretty sure the world market for computers was indeed 5 in 1943 - for various War Departments.

[octothorp]

I don't think that numbers 3, 4, and 5 should be included on this list:

#3: Saying something after the fact is quite different from making a prediction.

#4: Space travel still hasn't really been demonstrated in any sort of meaningful way. The only successful manned missions into space have all been in orbit around earth. Until we successfully send a manned mission to a celestial body not in orbit around earth (the planned Mars mission, for example), I'd say this is still open for debate.

#5: This isn't a prediction, it's a statement on what current evidence indicates. Einstein was far too smart to say 'Nuclear power is impossible.' Instead, he simply says that there's no evidence to suggest that it is possible. That's better science than if he had said "There's no evidence to suggest that nuclear power is possible, but I believe it is possible anyway."

[Knut]

Stupid Scientists....

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Stupid Scientists....

Stupid top 10 list makers who think they are smarter than scientists

[Bobblehead]

So, this article comes from a blog. The "About" page says:

I’m a former television meteorologist who operates a weather technology and content business, as well as continues daily forecasting on radio, just for fun.

Weather measurement and presentation technology is my specialty. I also provide weather stations and custom weather monitoring solutions via www.weathershop.com and www.tempelert.com, and turn key weather channels with advertising at www.viziframe.com

So I'm not sure where this TV Weatherman gets away with attributing these quotes to "science". Most of them just look like individual people who were wrong.

The article belongs in the bathroom so it can be used when you run out of toilet paper.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

So, this article comes from a blog. The "About" page says:

So I'm not sure where this TV Weatherman gets away with attributing these quotes to "science". Most of them just look like individual people who were wrong.

The article belongs in the bathroom so it can be used when you run out of toilet paper.

Typical. Attack the messenger, not the message.

I'm just glad the internet was created by God so the little guy like this weatherman can get his message out that scientists (especially scientists who specialize in being in the navy, and 19th century ones) are ALWAYS wrong.

[MaDMaN_26]

Originally Posted by tkflames

Clearly this means we have avoided another ice age through our excessive use of fossil fuels!!!! Congratulations all that gas guzzle...you have saved the planet!

Now what if he was right and an Ice age was coming and your right that burning fossil fuels and our lifestyles in general did avoid it... would that not mean all of our data reguarding the speed in which global warming will continue could be drastically under estimated?

I predict the world will end sometime next week... not Tuesday though... nope definately not Tuesday.