Expert: David L. Russell, PE - 5/9/2009

Question
Back in early school days I used to hear about that lone scientist who bucked the establishment and made a great discovery. Were such discoveries isolated and exceptional, or is the history of science filled with such individuals? The purpose of my question is to help me to discuss a certain environmental issue intelligently. Thanks.


Answer
The field of science is full of many independent thinker success stories.  However, it often depends upon the timing and the state of knowledge.  Two examples will help.  Gallileo was persecuted for his astronomic discoveries while he was alive.  So was Copernicus.
From Wikipedia
       Galileo Galilei (15 February 1564[2] – 8 January 1642)[1][3] was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations, and support for Copernicanism. Galileo has been called the "father of modern observational astronomy",[4] the "father of modern physics",[5] the "father of science",[5] and "the Father of Modern Science."[6] Stephen Hawking says, "Galileo, perhaps more than any other single person, was responsible for the birth of modern science."[7]
look up Copernicus, and here's Tesla:
Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) Serbian physicist and electrical engineer, inventor of the radio, AC Motor, and Tesla Coil.
   Tesla had an extreme struggle with the then current researchers who belived that AC power could not ever be used.  Edison was one of his rivals, and discounted his theories. Tesla had a terrible struggle to get his ideas accepted. He finally succeded and the rest is history.
Often it depends upon the state of research which leads one to advance a theory or an idea. Look up the history of Newton or Einstein and check what the state of science was in their day.

Hope that helps.