Trinity College experiment succeeds after 69 years

Dude, I'm finding this hilarious. 69 years to prove that something is a fluid? I picture two really old scientists watching the tape, only to have one of the old geezers turning to the other to spill the sacred words: "Told you so".

Re: Trinity College experiment succeeds after 69 years

#5

Post by digitalsushi » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 2:05 PM UTC

cupofjoakim wrote: post #4

Dude, I'm finding this hilarious. 69 years to prove that something is a fluid? I picture two really old scientists watching the tape, only to have one of the old geezers turning to the other to spill the sacred words: "Told you so".

Science isn't about "told you so". It's about rigor, about completion. It may seem hilarious because of the length of time involved for the experiment to complete, but what if the results hadn't been what we assumed? Science is the only enlightenment we have, and to dismiss the outcome as obvious is to climb back into the dark ages.

Re: Trinity College experiment succeeds after 69 years

#6

Post by dalore » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 2:06 PM UTC

duggieawesome wrote: post #3

It should be noted that this experiment is different than the Queensland experiment, which is still going on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_drop_experiment

How are they different? Both the article and the wikipedia link you gave mention they are similar experiments. It seems they are the same experiment to me.

Re: Trinity College experiment succeeds after 69 years

#7

Post by elnate » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 2:07 PM UTC

digitalsushi wrote: post #5

cupofjoakim wrote: post #4

Dude, I'm finding this hilarious. 69 years to prove that something is a fluid? I picture two really old scientists watching the tape, only to have one of the old geezers turning to the other to spill the sacred words: "Told you so".

Science isn't about "told you so". It's about rigor, about completion. It may seem hilarious because of the length of time involved for the experiment to complete, but what if the results hadn't been what we assumed? Science is the only enlightenment we have, and to dismiss the outcome as obvious is to climb back into the dark ages.

Then the other one would have said it. Everyone enjoys being proven right.

Re: Trinity College experiment succeeds after 69 years

#8

Post by cecilpl » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 2:07 PM UTC

dalore wrote: post #6

duggieawesome wrote: post #3

It should be noted that this experiment is different than the Queensland experiment, which is still going on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_drop_experiment

How are they different? Both the article and the wikipedia link you gave mention they are similar experiments. It seems they are the same experiment to me.

They're similar, yes, but they're aren't one and the same.

GP is pointing out that there are two experiments underway.

Re: Trinity College experiment succeeds after 69 years

#9

Post by peterkelly » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 2:12 PM UTC

I bet the grad student involved is celebrating now that they can finally submit their thesis

Re: Trinity College experiment succeeds after 69 years

#10

Post by peterkelly » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 2:13 PM UTC

dalore wrote: post #6

duggieawesome wrote: post #3

It should be noted that this experiment is different than the Queensland experiment, which is still going on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_drop_experiment

How are they different? Both the article and the wikipedia link you gave mention they are similar experiments. It seems they are the same experiment to me.

The theory is that the Australian one will drip upside-down