5. Luminiferous Aether
Also known as the “ether”, the aether was a substance that was said to have been transmitted through the universe through light. Great thinkers as far back as the Greeks believed this and surprisingly, it remained a theory all the way up to the 19th century. And if it were correct, it would literally undermine everything scientists have ever learned about modern physics. Needless to say, there was no evidence ever found.
4. Blank Slate Theory
This is probably one of the most controversial theories out there. Basically, it states that babies are not born with built-in personality or proclivities. The theory was proposed and worked on by Aristotle and was expressed by several scientific researchers during the time. Today, we know that babies are born with some pre-disposition passed down through genes. Today, the blank slate theory is still believed by some scientists and is even being studied.
3. Phrenology
Although today it is regarded as nothing more than a theory, phrenology used to be one of the most popular branches of neuroscience. Basically, this theory states that individual traits and skill sets could specifically be pin pointed in the brain. According the theory, the larger someone’s brain was, the more knowledge and information they had. Scientists back during that time would study brains to see if they behaved in this way.
2. Static Universe
While Einstein was responsible for the greatest discoveries known to man, he was unfortunately wrong about this one. Basically, he believed that the size of the universe always remains the same. The size of the universe today as the same size it was millions of years ago- that was his theory. The truth about the universe is that it is expanding at an infinite rate. While he was one of the greatest scientists of all time, Einstein does not appear to have been right about this one.
1. Fleischmann and Pons’s Cold Fusion
This theory states that fusion reactions are possible at room temperature. This groundbreaking theory came about in 1989 and there were ongoing experiments from all kinds of scientists in an attempt to work it out. While this belief was said to be able to keep fusion energy clean and cheap, the truth is that fusion energy requires heat in order to work- plain and simple.