> > Offered to the PDML as basis for another discussion: > > > > http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/clumps.shtml
And he mentions that old hoary chesnut about bumblebees not being able to fly - which really P's me off :-) I am sick of laymen quoting it to me to 'prove' how impractical scientists are (*). Can I just say that no scientist has EVER claimed that bumblebees cannot fly. All that happened once a long time ago was one guy at an aerodynamics conference said to the press (and I paraphrase) "According to our current understanding of aerodynamics, bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly". He was simply admitting that scientists' knowledge was woefully incomplete. But you can see which way the press chose to quote his statement. (*) The other one that really irritates me is "They can put a man on the moon but they still can't cure the common cold". As if all scientific problems are merely household chores that have to be ticked off rather than some being actually a lot harder than others. Sorry, rant over. Chris
