With technology it is easy to get information overload and potentialy miss the ‘gems’. I’m trying to slow down and look deeper into fewer items. Already finding it is much more enjoyable and engaging.

Imagine of Fleming had thrown away the mold so he could clear his unread RSS?

Thought provoking post.

Yes, I agree about some of the process of discovery being to do with learning from the discovery of others. And Newton did this and admitted it.

Unfortunately in the case of the scientists who moved in Cavendish’s footsteps, they had already re-discovered much of what was useful BEFORE they found that Cavendish had already done it.

Because of the obscure nature of the way Cavendish worked, and his diffidence to be explicit when he published, he was either misunderstood or completely ignored.

Catchya later

Nice post!

The usefulness of discoveries is a fascinating serendipitous occurrence too. Very recently I wrote about this in a comment on one of my own posts while discussing another aspect in a similar context.

A good example from history is the difference between the life works of Newton and Cavendish.

Both these scientists had their moments in life. But Newton was an advocate for what he believed and what he discovered.

Cavendish, on the other hand, was equally as brilliant. Much of his life’s work, his discoveries, might as well have been lost, for all the use he put them to for the benefit of society.

What he believed and discovered was later re-discovered by other brilliant scientists. They learnt of what Cavendish did by sheer chance and dilligence while researching through the historical works of others. It was also at a time when much of Cavendish’s work had already been re-discovered by them and others. Sad really. But there it is.

Catchya later

The only thing I’ve really discovered is that there are some great gems hidden out there that I’ve been ignoring — and that I’m not going to ignore them anymore. =)

A great article and observation! What precipitated this article? What have you discovered? A way to have a clean face without shaving? Or a way to have our political leaders work together? Or maybe you discovered a new “love” in your life?

Now you got me keeping my eyes open…..