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Clinton Joseph Davisson
(22 Oct 1881 - 1 Feb 1958)
American physicist.
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Science Quotes by Clinton Joseph Davisson (1 quote)
We think we understand the regular reflection of light and X rays - and we should understand the reflections of electrons as well if electrons were only waves instead of particles ... It is rather as if one were to see a rabbit climbing a tree, and were to say ‘Well, that is rather a strange thing for a rabbit to be doing, but after all there is really nothing to get excited about. Cats climb trees - so that if the rabbit were only a cat, we would understand its behavior perfectly.’ Of course, the explanation might be that what we took to be a rabbit was not a rabbit at all but was actually a cat. Is it possible that we are mistaken all this time in supposing they are particles, and that actually they are waves?
— Clinton Joseph Davisson
Franklin Institute Journal Vol. 205, 597. Cited in New Scientist (14 Apr 1977), 66.
See also:
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22 Oct - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Davisson's birth.
At the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes--an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive they may be, and the most ruthless skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new. This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense. -- Carl Sagan
