One of the best things Ive found to do when science comes up with a sensational discovery is to sit back and wait. They often embarrass themselves, such as in this case. ***** The much-hyped proof of cosmic inflation a few months ago has been discredited, revealing more about how science is done in the media age than about reality. Back in March (3/17/14), champagne was served in the home of Andrei Linde after young scientists brought him proof of cosmic inflation. A strong polarization signal “consistent” with inflation was declared by the BICEP2 team in Antarctica after their analysis of data from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. News reporters went wild with the “biggest cosmological discovery in decades.” There was talk of a Nobel Prize for the three gurus of inflation (Guth, Linde, and Starobinsky), and indeed, those three shared the $1 million Kavli Prize shortly afterward. By May and June, some reporters were backpedaling, taking a “wait and see” attitude, as data from the ESA’s Planck mission, forthcoming in fall, might bridle the enthusiasm. Those were the wise reporters. Newly-announced Planck results show a strong likelihood that BICEP2 was flexing its own weakness. The signal, it turns out, was most likely due to dust in our local galaxy - See more at: crev.info/2014/09/inflation-claim-crumbles-into-dust/#sthash.HdbtCT9t.dpuf
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:56:18 +0000
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