Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Hatchman
You mean the Chandrasekhar who won the Nobel prize for physics for work on the structure and evolution of stars?
He was never "forced out". You are absolutely correct that the Chandrasekhar limit was not accepted within the wider astronomical community for decades, largely because of Eddington's objections. However in this matter Chandrasekhar had some big supporters including Bohr and Pauli helping to argue his case. He worked his entire carrer in the field of astronomy at the University of Chicago. A quick search of the Astronomical Abstract database, lists close to 200 books/papers authored by him.
So I don't think he's a particularly good example. I also suspect that it would be harder for another Eddington-like character to hold so much sway over the astronomical community these days. Science has moved on a long way from the "boys club" culture of the British Royal Society.
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The only example I can think of where the "Boys Club" prevailed in relatively recent times was the flak over Alfred Wegener's Theory of Continental Drift.
Wegener was a meteorologist and by intruding into an unrelated scientific field did disturb many egos.
This behaviour is very much the exception than the rule.
Regards
Steven