In middle school, most of us were taught the "scientific method" – a simplified list of steps meant to help kids understand how scientists approach the world. But how accurate is it, really? In this episode, we get to talking about the history of science, and discuss how the reality of scientific research stacks up against the famous "method".

First, we discuss Galileo - the first person we know who took a telescope and asked, "what if I point this up??"

And we discuss the less-well-known figure of Ludwig Boltzmann, a genius mathematician who thought he'd proved the existence of atoms, only to encounter a shocking amount of skepticism.

Lastly, Eric will discuss his own idea: the “Three Nails in a Coffin” Theory of Scientific Progress. Is it as silly as it sounds? Let's find out right now...

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You can also find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@BoltzmannBrainsPodcast