Experimenting.....

[hallenrm]

To carry out experiments to prove or disprove a hypothesis is an essential activity in science. But somehow, the culture of experimenting is on the wane, perhaps due to the perception that an experiment requires lots of resources which only a large institution engaged in science research can provide.

 

As a part of education, students when introduced to science are often encouraged to do experiments. Indeed experimenting is a part of science curriculum in most schools. But, these experiments are not real experiments, because invariably students and teachers know what results to expect from these experiments.

 

Outside, the school curriculum, as an individual grows, the urge to experiment diminishes, most of the time, leading to a retardation of the scientific temper of an individual (in case it has been some how incultated)

 

The question that arises, is can people do experiments in daily life? If yes how often do they engage in doing experiments outsude the laboratories of an institution engaged in science research.:shrug:

[Buffy]

Daily. Perhaps hourly. My kid will tell you that one of my favorite lines is "that looks like a physics experiment waiting to happen."

 

Experimentation occurs in the kitchen, on the road (hopefully when the highway patrol is not looking), snooping around gigantic caldera: the possibilities are endless!

 

Science is Life,

Buffy

[Tormod]

I do experiments as part of presentations for kids and adults as part of my work at the space centre. But it's not very fancy - usually just to show basic laws of physics etc so it's more demonstration than science... :shrug:

[Turtle]

I do experiments as part of presentations for kids and adults as part of my work at the space centre. But it's not very fancy - usually just to show basic laws of physics etc so it's more demonstration than science... :)

 

You are too modest Tumrod! ;) :) I, on the other hand have no reservations in touting Hypography itself as an ongoing grand scientific experiment so well conceived in its tenets by yourself that turtles sing your praises all the way down. A basic law of nature now we know is the fractal pattern, which from simple rules well mixed with recursion generates the fanciest of forms and Hypography no less so as a science experiment of science experiments of science experiments so well stacked as to leave no turtle unoccupied.

My every breath is an experiment and from where I stand it is turtles all the way up...to Tormod. (If I laid that on too thick or thin just let me know and I'll change the parameters and run the experiment again.:lol: )

[Tormod]

I feel the turtles tremble under my feet. :)

[hallenrm]

I second the opinion of Turtle, Hypography is indeed a grand experiment, on a global scale. Hats off to our dear Tormod for initiating it.

 

As regards Turtle I distinctly remember his experimental nature, when he set up an experiment at home to verify whether an Alternating current can cause electrolysis. Three cheers for dear Tutle too! :)

[Zythryn]

Life is an experimentD)

Can I beat that light, how does that unknown dog react if I walk near it.

More complicated experiments (how does this code work if I write it this way as opposed to that).

Graphing out how customers respond to advertising, what sales, web pages, presence or absence of links to products, etc. (glad I am done with that:)).

[ughaibu]

If "push" is written on a door, I usually pull, but if "keep left" is written on a road sign, I rarely switch to the right. Experimentation is generally interactive beyond it's own bounds.

[Mercedes Benzene]

I experiment all the time quite frankly!

 

Whenever I come up with some idea that I have about a scientific concept, I usually go through numerous self-designed experiments to test my theory.

I also find it helpful to experiment when you don't fully understand something. For me at least, by actually doing something hands-on, the concept becomes much more clear.

[InfiniteNow]

Worked in 8 different labs while in college, published as assistant on the theses of 3 different grad students, and have been doing research for many years at various jobs since graduation.

 

Always account for the outliers...

[hallenrm]

I am currently experimenting with my thoughts. I initiate threads (here) with a certain expectations, sometimes the results are in line with them and sometimes not, which propel me to modify my expectations!!!

 

:cup:

[Mercedes Benzene]

When I was 7, I put an ant in the microwave for 2 seconds, and put it back in the nest in hope the radiation would spread.

 

I too once thought that radiation was "contagious". ;)

[Southtown]

Yeah, when I was in high school, my friend had these pills...

[HappytheStripper]

When I was 15 I blew up the school science lab .. experimenting !!

I made it to the front page of the paper .. my mom was VERY disappointed with me .. and it cost her mega money in damages .. :phones: on the upside .. its a great story for the grandkids .. hehe

[Mercedes Benzene]

When I was 15 I blew up the school science lab .. experimenting !!

I made it to the front page of the paper .. my mom was VERY disappointed with me .. and it cost her mega money in damages .. on the upside .. its a great story for the grandkids .. hehe

 

What exactly... did you do? Blowing up a school science lab is quite a miraculous feat. I'd love to hear this one. You may just become my new friend. :phones: