Publishing a scientific discovery

[Aria Darabi]

Let's say someone discovers something that can better the lives of everyone; where would they go to publish this discovery? Do they just patent/sell it or is there more to it?

 

[micromass]

OK, let's be straightforward here. It's you who has this discovery, right? So tell us something about yourself, your experience and the type of discovery you made.

 

[Aria Darabi]

OK, let's be straightforward here. It's you who has this discovery, right? So tell us something about yourself, your experience and the type of discovery you made.

I have not made any discovery. I want to know where people go to publish it. Do you know?

 

[micromass]

I have not made any discovery.

Then why are you making this thread? What caused it?

I want to know where people go to publish it. Do you know?

No, since it depends heavily on who the person is and what kind of discovery it is. There is a difference between inventing a new feature on your iPhone and proving the Riemann hypothesis.

 

[Aria Darabi]

Then why are you making this thread? What caused it?
No, since it depends heavily on who the person is and what kind of discovery it is. There is a difference between inventing a new feature on your iPhone and proving the Riemann hypothesis.

I'm sensing hostility from you. I apologize if I offended you.

Let's say it's a new electrical power source; where would I go?

 

[micromass]

I'm sensing hostility from you.

I'm just asking questions since your original post was very vague.

Let's say it's a new electrical power source; where would I go?

You will probably want to patent this.

 

[Aria Darabi]

I'm just asking questions since your original post was very vague.
You will probably want to patent this.

Thank you.

 

[Astronuc]

Let's say someone discovers something that can better the lives of everyone; where would they go to publish this discovery? Do they just patent/sell it or is there more to it?

One patents an invention. One cannot patent a natural occurring phenomenon, although one may patent an invention that takes advantage of a natural phenomenon in order to produce a process or product that is new, useful and non-obvious.

If it is a scientific discovery, usually one approaches a scientific journal, e.g., Nature or Science, but they would probably expect a peer-review of the discovery.

 

[Astronuc]

new electrical power source

One could patent the invention of a new method to generate electricity. One can start by identifying the classes pertaining to the technology, e.g, US Classes 310 or 322, for electrical generators. One can visit USPTO or comparable patent office in one's country, or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/ for more information on the filing process.