Skip to main content

Reset your password

Please enter the e-mail address you used to register to reset your password

Note: The verification e-mail to change your password should arrive immediately. However, in some cases it takes longer. Don't forget to check your spam folder.

If you haven't received the e-mail in 24 hours, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org

Registration complete

Thank you for registering with Physics World
If you'd like to change your details at any time, please visit My account

Close
Philosophy, sociology and religion

Philosophy, sociology and religion

Throwing the book at bad ideas

10 Dec 2015
Taken from the December 2015 issue of Physics World

Several eminent science authors have recently claimed that bad scientific ideas “held back” good ones throughout human history, delaying the progress of science. But as Philip Ball argues, it just isn’t that simple

Colourful drawing of astrological wheel, with symbols for the Sun, Moon and astrological signs
Taking sides Did the "bad theory" of astrology hold back "good" science? (Courtesy: iStock/Eugene_Dudar)
If you believe in scientific progress, you will agree that the fate of all theories is to be replace

You’ve reached the limit of what you can view on Physics World without registering

If you already have an account on Physics World, then please sign in to continue reading

If you do not yet have an account, please register so you can

  • Access more than 20 years of online content
  • Choose which e-mail newsletters you would like to receive

Philip Ball is a science writer and journalist based in London, UK
Read previous

Nature’s ups and downs
Read next

Climate hopes, climate dreams

Discover more from Physics World

Related jobs

Related events

Copyright © 2025 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors