The Hubble/Lemaitre's Controversy is Over

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In summary, Nature has stated that accusations of Edwin Hubble quashing Georges Lemaitre's discovery are unfounded. It has been confirmed that Lemaitre himself translated and deleted paragraphs in his paper, and he was not concerned with establishing priority over Hubble's 1929 publication. This settles the "controversy" and highlights the humility and graciousness of Lemaitre, a man of faith.
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FlexGunship
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Accusations that a giant of astronomy, Edwin Hubble, quashed a Belgian cleric who beat him to making one of the greatest discoveries of modern times are unfounded, Nature said on Wednesday.

"This clearly ends speculation about who translated the paper and who deleted the paragraphs -- Georges Lemaitre did both himself," Livio said.

"Lemaitre was not at all obsessed with establishing priority for this original discovery. Given that Hubble's results had been published in 1929, Lemaitre saw no point in repeating his own more tentative earlier findings in 1931."

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8qLyij72VAPtk1ffsMYYxshN0ZQ?docId=CNG.83836e5f1645ca4f109734aee0b1e702.2c1

For anyone who was following this "controversy," is has been settled. I was torn over this issue, Hubble was brilliant and had never shown a shred of academic dishonesty, but Lemaitre's hypothesis was proposed 2 years before Hubble even speculated about an expanding universe.

Happy to hear that even Lamaitre considered Hubble's work to supersede his own; it makes both men better as a result.
 
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Lemaitre was a man of faith, and his humility and graciousness is a testament to how we should all approach our scientific discoveries.
 

1. What was the controversy between Hubble and Lemaitre?

The controversy between Hubble and Lemaitre centered around the interpretation of Hubble's observations of the expansion of the universe. Lemaitre proposed the theory of the "primeval atom" which suggested that the universe was continuously expanding from a single point of origin. Hubble, on the other hand, believed in a steady-state model of the universe that did not have a beginning or end.

2. How was the controversy resolved?

The controversy was resolved when Edwin Hubble himself accepted Lemaitre's theory and acknowledged that the universe did indeed have a beginning. This was also supported by further evidence and observations from other scientists that confirmed the expansion of the universe.

3. What is the significance of the resolution of this controversy?

The resolution of this controversy was significant as it solidified the understanding of the origin and expansion of the universe. It also paved the way for further research and discoveries in the field of cosmology.

4. Are there any lingering debates or disagreements regarding this issue?

Some scientists still debate the specifics of the Big Bang theory, which is based on Lemaitre's theory of the primeval atom. However, the general consensus among the scientific community is that the controversy between Hubble and Lemaitre is resolved.

5. How did the Hubble/Lemaitre controversy impact the field of cosmology?

The Hubble/Lemaitre controversy played a crucial role in shaping the field of cosmology and our understanding of the universe. It led to the development of the Big Bang theory, which is widely accepted as the most accurate explanation for the origin and evolution of the universe. It also sparked further advancements in technology and research methods, allowing scientists to gather more evidence and data to support the theory.

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