Question to all Scientists, If I had a very good idea about "Dark Matter"

(what it is) and a possible solution to some of the major questions of "String Theory," what should I do?

How do you go about "telling the scientific community," without losing "credit" for these ideas, or being dismissed as a kook (I'm only an amateur astronomer)?:shrug:

Be honest about your credentials, and ask them for their advice.

...you think he would think I was a nut, or is he the type that would write back?:shrug:

He's the guy who recently wrote a books and did the NOVA series on String Theory last year.

Best of luck, though.

If it's based on real physics, he'll probably write back (or have a grad student do it). If you're postulating that it's all due to tiny invisible elves pulling on strings.....that's another story (although they're more likely to post this one on their wall if it's entertaining).

I wouldn't get all hung up on getting credit unless you've gone through and done all the math, etc... In other words, all the work that is involved in presenting a theory. If it's simply an idea, just throw it out there, and if someone picks up on it, maybe they'll give you credit.

It's a little known fact that Einstein originally got the idea for the theory of relativity from a shoemaker, who when asked how long it would be before Einstein's shoes were repaired, stated, "It depends."

;)

The problem is (with the Dark Matter theory) is that it is not a very complicated theory, in fact, it so simple that it's almost a forehead slapper. :think:

My String Theory idea (do they call that a postulate?) is more complicated, but obvious once you hear it. :hippie:

I guess what I'm asking is, What the usual procedure or order of events, and is their a standard format for a proposed theory?:shrug:

with documents in permanent ink detailing your theory and have them notarized.

Another good idea. B-)

Gosh you Science Guys ARE smart.:silly:

He probably gets tons of letters from the general public.

If you want a response, I'd write to someone much less in the public eye, but still an expert in one of these fields. There are plenty of options.

I wrote more in post #10.

--Peter

Discovery as the credential problem is avoided. Once published it is your idea and dated.

If you are worried about theft of the idea, just write it all down and mail it to yourself - WHEN IT ARRIVES DO NOT OPEN IT!

The canceled stamp unopened envelope has won many a court case.

I was kind of surprised that this Topic was still on page 1, I guess you guys DO care.:hippie:

So, they really DO still have Regular Mail? Cool.:silly:

www.journaloftheoretics.com

My theory of Dark Matter is that it's all the missing socks from people's laundry. It makes sense... They're both "missing," and it's well known that dryers create temporal wormhole fluctuations in the space-time continuum.

TlalocW

when I would ask her how her weekend went, she would usually reply:
Great! I managed to match up all the socks coming out of the dryer!

We could eliminate the future production of more black holes by purchasing those little clips you put on your socks to hold them together when you take them off and put them in the laundry basket. They stay together; get washed together, and come out of the dryer together!

Because, I already have proof, that the "Secret Organization of Cloth and Kashmir Socks" a.k.a. SOCKS, has been covering up the fact that all modern cloths driers create small "Black Holes" as they work.:tinfoilhat:

Why else would they make it that, the drier stops when you open the door? :dunce:

Socks are the larval form of wire hangers.

That's a good one!:yourock:

make millions, and while you are writing the screen play get a job at mit where you can check out your theory like matt's character did as a janitor.

I would suggest writing to a respected scientist (or more than one) in the fields you are interested in.

If you write to scientists, I cannot emphasize strongly enough to keep your initial contact brief, but to still get the key points across. Usually this should be enough for an expert to tell if you are onto something or not. These guys are extraordinarily busy, and if they get sent huge treatises by non-scientists (and they do get sent these things all the time), they tend to toss them at grad students to deal with, and the grad students (not surprisingly) tend to ignore them in favor of their own work.

Tons of scientists work in the fields you are talking about. There have been innumerable good ideas about both dark matter and string theory. If your ideas are good, there is a strong likelihood they've already been, or are already being, worked on.

As for retaining "credit," that is always tough when dealing with cut-throat scientists. Publication in a respected scientific journal is the only way to assure scientific credit.

--Peter

gets the credit." --Ronald Reagan.

Isn't he the guy that used to tell tails of his time fighting in the Pacific during WW2, even though, the closest he ever got to being in in the war, were the movie he made about WW2? :wtf:

"There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit."

Though I'm sure some industrious speech writer put those words into the mouth of the Great Impostor at one time and I'm equally sure that neither of them ever bothered to read Emerson.

inspired by R.W. Emerson, who then inspired Martin Luther King, who then inspired me to become a Buddhist.:hippie:

I can't remember who they said R.W. Emerson was inspired by, but the chain most likely goes back to the Buddha, who taught the same thing back in 500 B.C.E.

Problem is, I don't currently have a job, or any Retirement savings, and if * gets his way, I won't get Social Security either, so if their is money to be made off my ideas, I need to be the one to do that.

I thought it was like being a priest - you can leave the field but once a scientist always a scientist, no?

do not appreciate scientific explorations by mere mortals. Suggestions are not welcome either.

Been there.

Protect your thoughts somehow before sharing them.

180

Whoops. This is intended for the original poster. I used your words to high-light your point. Sorry.

180

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Ramanujan.html

He sent a letter to GH Hardy, and the rest is history.

A whole bunch, in fact. And a lot of math courses. You'll always come across as a kook for "coming up with theories" on a subject if you haven't actually studied the topic. And by studying a topic, I don't just mean watching a PBS documentary on it.

The is essentially a requirement for professional scientists who want to publish results, so it will be (and should be) a pre-requisite for any amateurs as well.

College physics and math isn't nearly enough.

--Peter

nt

I'll pass it on to the right people.

:evilgrin: