When I was a kid it was 9 planets?

Question

Now it is 12!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/08/16/new.planets.ap/index.html

When scientists are wrong they just say "My Bad!" Could they be wrong about other things? Hmm?

Answer 1

Of course scientists could be wrong- they could be wrong about lots of things! Hell, they once thought the Earth was flat.

Answer 2

They should have said...so far there are nine planets.
One point here, Pluto is more of an asteroid but at that time of discovery they gave credit to the discoverer. So the books in the schools that were written for our children say nine so they don't want to change the mistake instead they say the shape is different from the other 8 planets.
For the other thought about other mistakes they made...
They are looking at the flood of Noah's day they now believe it was global not the melting of ice north coming down slowly remember the discovery of the mammoths they found grass in their mouths, so the water that feel from above, the weather change quickly and froze them fast.
Other wrongs...
Dinosaurs where are they today? they can't answer that.
You are right, there are more mistakes but it will take up all the space here.
That is a good question keep it up.
One more thing...I think you are in the wrong section science..........

Answer 3

Scientists are willing to look at their claims and attempt to verify them. Religious people don't have ANY evidence to support their claims, so there is no evidence to disprove.

By the way, remember the idea of the Earth revolving around the sun. It took centuries for the church to accept that idea. The church even excommunicated Galileo for saying that the sun doesn't revolve around the Earth. Could the church be wrong about other things.

By the way, when the astronomers meet and decide the number of planets, I think that they will make the amount 8. They will just ignore the Kuiper bodies, such as Pluto and the nearly identical 2003 UB313.

Answer 4

The strength of science as a system of knowledge is that it constantly checks to see if it is wrong. If actual real evidence of God is ever discovered, science will test that evidence, verify it, and accomodate it in their description of how the world works.

This is, however, a really asinine question; astronomers have known for decades about the existence of the objects in question, and have theorized that several more Pluto-like objects may be out there. The debate is not over the existence of other planets, but whether certain objects qualify as "planets", or if they should be described as "planetoids". Distinction too fine for you?

Answer 5

I believe that science in a fallible art. Truth can never be fully understood by mere mortals. Mistakes happen and we accept them. When one looks at faith and science they see two polar opposites. When I see both faith and science I see two friends that are there helping each other. Where science cannot answer, faith is there to help.

There are some hard scientific facts which faith cannot argue. Diseases exist and the medicine you take for it is born from both science and faith. Science found the formula, faith inspired the human. God does not want us to steer away from science. It has helped human kind in ways we cannot comprehend. Where there is a limit to what we do is when we act as if we were The Lord and took life into our own hands.

Now I can see that some of you atheists are questioning my objections to "Playing God" but support for medicines. When one heals someone it is a blessing. When one kills a being to heal someone it is sinful. Remember that every conception is a life and it is not up to us to decide when we take it.

On the subject of cloning, I feel that it is also an abomination. Those who attempt to create life in the image of anything is playing with the devil. remember, the devil is not a being, he is a concept. He is the one that tells you that it is alright to disobey the laws of God.

To wrap up, science has helped man kind since the first tribal herbalist. When we attempt blasphemy in the name of science is when we have gone too far.

Answer 6

We have better telescopes today than the ones from years ago, and in the future they will have better ones than the ones today.
With the Hubble, we see further and clearer. In the near future we may have to say 20 planets, two astroid belts, more comets, and others stuff.
And yes science can be wrong now and then, but rarely.

Answer 7

Everything in science is a work in progress. That's what makes it so good. If something is wrong it is self correcting. If you're trying to say that science could be wrong, therefore the Bible is right you're only setting up a false dichotomy. Science never claims to be 100% correct and infallible, it's constantly growing and changing as new discoveries are made. Bible thumpers however stick to a story that was written thousands of years ago based on an untested hypothesis. The Bible does not correct itself in light of new evidence.

Answer 8

If you think for one moment that this is an indication of the worthlessness of science as it relates to any attitudes regarding religion, creationism, evolution, etc., etc., etc., I think you've just put your foot in your mouth and invited a heaping helping of criticism of your lack of understanding. You're missing one very big major point about science. Science is vibrant, alive, always changing, always seeking the real absolute truth of the universe, is always changing and making corrections to itself when necessary and not sticking dogmatically to untenable positions such as religion loves to do. It does not claim to have all the truth of the universe in the way that religion does, clinging so dearly to the interpretations of superstitious primitives from the distant past. Nothing in science is ever set in stone and if it were, it would no longer be science, it would become antiquated also. This change in definition and number of planets proves the value and open-mindedness of science, it shows its strength, not any weakness that you are imagining..

Answer 9

Science, unlike the calcified traditions of religion, is self-correcting when new data comes in. All current theories are based on current information. When new information is discovered, theories get altered or discarded. Scientists are not prophets the way the religious claim to be.

So there.

Answer 10

No real offense, but I WAS A KID 60 years ago,,, I suspect you may still be YOUNG.

Do you have no belief that everything evolves,,,even science and discoveries??????????????

The unknown should stay so, in my opinion, though I question it all the time.

Erleichda, will ya. Take a breath and stop stressing about something that will never effect you in your lifetime. BIG SIGH.

Rev. Steven

Answer 11

Actually, they are revising the definition of the word "planet". Three bodies will now fit the new definition, as well as the original nine.

They are not finding anything new, just redefining what they see.

And yes, scientists can indeed be wrong. Or are we not allowed to be human?