The Lifetime Pursuit of Failed Theories
Not all brilliant ideas turn out to be brilliant
They dedicated decades of research, only to have their life’s work definitively proven wrong.
These scientists sacrificed everything in pursuit of theories that, in hindsight, were completely misguided. Yet without their fruitless efforts, science may not have advanced.
Einstein’s predecessor, Ludwig Lorenz, devoted his career to developing a theory of electrons that he believed would unify electromagnetism and mechanics. But his “theory of electrons” relied on a flawed understanding of the subatomic world. Quantum physics later revealed that electrons do not behave as he theorized.
Likewise, American astronomer Percival Lowell spent over 20 years utterly convinced that intricate canals constructed by intelligent Martians crisscrossed the Red Planet. But the first space probes to visit Mars found no signs of artificial structures, just natural terrain. Lowell’s widely-accepted canal theory turned out to be an optical illusion.
The Australian doctor Barry Marshall fought against skepticism to prove that bacteria, not stress, caused stomach ulcers.
But before Marshall’s discovery in the 1980s, acidity and spicy foods were long blamed as the culprits. Entire diets were developed to prevent ulcer formation.
Some scientists even latch onto evidence that seems to confirm their misguided theories. Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe steadfastly promoted an Earth-centric model of the cosmos in the 16th century. While fundamentally wrong, the accuracy of Brahe’s meticulous observations laid the groundwork for Kepler to formulate correct planetary motion laws.
While their theories proved false, these scientists’ relentless pursuit of understanding still enriched scientific knowledge. Their unwavering dedication, even in the face of being wrong, made invaluable contributions to the slow march of progress. Science must sometimes take two steps back to take one step forward.
The Fruitless Pursuit of Misguided Theories
Throughout history, there have been instances of scientists dedicating their entire careers to pursuing theories that would later be discredited or debunked. Though their work was flawed, these researchers were convinced they were on the verge of major breakthroughs.
One notable example is Friedrich Wöhler, a German chemist in the 1800s. He theorized that vital forces or special energies were responsible for organic compounds that could not be produced artificially. This “vitalism” theory was central to his work. Wöhler spent decades trying to synthesize organic compounds like urea in the lab to disprove the theory of vitalism.
Though he succeeded in 1828, many vitalism proponents clung to their beliefs, wasting years on the invalidated theory.
Another lifelong pursuit of a faulty idea was that of Albert A. Michelson, who dedicated over 30 years to trying to detect the luminiferous ether. This hypothetical substance was believed to allow light waves to travel through space. Despite the famous Michelson-Morley experiment in 1887 providing strong evidence against the ether, Michelson continued seeking proof of its existence until his death in 1931.
In more recent times, physicist Jan Hendrik Schön believed he was pioneering semi-conductors. He published over 90 papers with breakthrough findings, only for them to be exposed as fabricated in 2002. Schön’s work was based on faulty assumptions and flawed methodology.
These examples illustrate how cognitive biases, academic pressure, and stubbornness can cause researchers to persist down the wrong path for years, even when evidence mounts against their theories. However, their fruitless pursuits still contribute value by ruling out incorrect ideas and pointing others towards more fruitful work.
Scientific progress often depends on disproving misguided claims so that truth may prevail.
