-Science Lessons One- from Top Scientists- -We Don’t Know-

During the World Forum of Top Scientists held from October 25 to 27, nearly 300 scientists from around 20 countries and regions converged in Shanghai for a remarkable celebration of science.

At the “Science T Conference: The First Lesson in Science,” faced with a range of questions from 100 young scientists gathered from across the country, many experts responded with a candid, “We don’t know.”

“We don’t know” might just be the five most vital words in scientific research.

Michael Berry, a recipient of the 1998 Wolf Prize in Physics, presented a fascinating lesson on one of nature’s less “high-tech” phenomena: the rainbow.

Since the 13th century, when philosopher Roger Bacon turned his attention to the rainbow, scientists have continued to explore this optical wonder for over 700 years. The most famous experiment comes from Isaac Newton, who demonstrated the dispersion of light with a prism.

So, has science completely unraveled the mysteries of the rainbow? Not quite, according to Berry. He pointed out that a contemporary challenge for physicists is understanding the true nature of a rainbow after removing the effects of gravitational lensing, saying, “Don’t think it’s a silly question. In fact, many scientific principles behind cutting-edge technologies originate from the study of rainbows.”

“Many scientific theories demonstrate their validity within specific fields until they are eventually overturned or integrated with other theories,” Berry explained. “All scientific principles are temporary; our understanding of the universe has always been limited.”

How do we explore the infinite unknown within our finite lifespan? According to George Smoot, a Nobel Laureate in Physics, critical thinking is the key. “As scientists, we need to adopt critical thinking as much as possible to break free from cognitive inertia,” he advised, emphasizing the importance of applying extra critical thought to significant and novel issues.

Embracing the unknown requires courage from scientists. “People tend to seek comfort in perceived eternal truths and resist open-mindedness,” Smoot observed. He acknowledged that the human desire for the sense of safety provided by “eternal truths” is instinctive, but to be a scientist, one must overcome this habitual way of thinking.

Zheng Quanshui, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Tsinghua University, shared his view that humanity is uniquely driven by hopes for the future. “Humans not only anticipate the future but also aspire to create it. When we are inspired by a desire to forge the future, our growth accelerates rapidly,” he stated.

For Zheng, anyone aiming to pursue a career in scientific research must have dreams, especially in a world increasingly seeking disruptive innovations: the path ahead may be uncertain, but like he said, we must “ride our dreams forward.”