Do Things We Cannot Directly Detect Exist? in the Early

question 60

Essay

Do Things We Cannot Directly Detect Exist? In the early part of the 20th century, physicists experimentally discovered that a certain type of radioactive decay did not seem to conserve either energy or momentum. These experiments were "explained" by postulating the existence of an undetected (and potentially undetectable)particle, dubbed the neutrino, that carried away the missing energy and momentum. It was argued that neutrinos interacted so weakly with matter that they were extremely hard to detect. If you were a scientist at this time, how would you evaluate the reasonableness this solution given Occam's razor?

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Definitions:

Pedaling

The act of operating the pedals of a bicycle, exercise bike, or similar machinery, often to propel it forward or to generate power.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for rest and digest activities, counterbalancing the sympathetic nervous system.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for quick response to perceived threats by accelerating heart rate and increasing blood pressure, among other effects.