Opinionated History of Mathematics

Galileo’s theory of comets is hot air

Jul 7, 2019 · 36 min · 17.5 MB
0:00-36:16

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Galileo thought comets were an atmospheric phenomenon, not physical bodies in outer space. How could he be so wrong when all his colleagues got it right? Perhaps because his theory was a convenient excuse for not doing any mathematical astronomy of comets. We also discuss his unsavoury ways of dealing with data in the case … Continue reading Galileo’s theory of comets is hot air