The null hypothesis

While I was trying to read a script to a camera in zero-g, the student researchers behind me were trying to prove their own ideas -- or rather, to disprove their "null hypothesis". Let's talk about how science works -- and have a look at one of the teams flying in that plane.

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Papers cited:

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Camera: Melanie Cowan
Editor: Michelle Martin

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(you can find contact details and social links there too)

[TomScottGo]

This video's a little bit personal for me -- because my own Masters thesis completely, unquestionably proved the null hypothesis. I still got my degree... but it hurt, just a little.

[edwartexe]

So the plane was full of scientists, researchers...and some dude screaming to a camera XD

[lowercaserho]

My favourite negative-result experiment is the Michelson-Morley experiment. It was designed to measure the luminiferous ether, and completely failed to do so. Instead, it ended up leading to the completely rejection of luminiferous ether as a theory, and ultimately to the development of special relativity. Not bad for a "failure".

[stensoft]

I can't believe people are still talking about the null hypothesis. I remember reading a study that disproved it years ago.

[YTMsux]

One of my favorite things about your videos is that you don't waste my time with an intro. Straight to the point. Love it and your content. Keep it up!

[MatthiasYReich]

Haha, I like how you can see the attempted personal flip record in the back

[armadillito]

The under-publishing of negative results is a serious and worrying problem. Surely there ought to be better regulations in place to make sure that all valid, completed experiments are published?

[TheStrictlyAwesome]

Actually one of the only good content creators left on YouTube. Much love from Scotland.

[platinoob__]

everyone in the plane dead serious doing experiments and Tom in the back having the best time of his life flying

I know I am a bit late, but...

[incendere]

Always showing up on the weirdest places on weird time frames wearing the same shirt
are we sure Tom isn't a cartoon character?

[eldaiblol]

I belive this one of your greatest videos for three reasons:
- It discusses Science
- It is about Space or at least Zero-G
- And it shows women in science.
Thanks so much!

[SlippyLegJones]

Reminds me of the public distaste for NASA after the faulty hubble telescope.
It annoyed me so much when I heard everybody just started making fun of NASA who worked so hard and almost completed perfectly it but the tiniest error caused people to ignore all the success in that mission.

[SilverAura]

I swear, your videos are some of the only ones I genuinely LOVE seeing pop up in my recent videos. They're fascinating, easily digested, and even if it's something I already knew, a ton of fun to watch. I don't think you've got a single 5-10 minute video I haven't watched to completion. Keep up the fantastic work, Tom.

[charliejones]

The idea that negative results are less 'flashy', is the reason why why a lecturer at my university helped to set up the 'Journal for Negative Results'.

[alexlandherr]

I remember the pain of my high school graduation project (in biology, studying a bactericidal compound) dealing with the null hypothesis. Wasn’t easy when you have to balance a mini research project and 5 other subjects.

My results were tainted by poor methodology so I could neither disprove my null hypothesis or confirm it.

[marioshi]

This is an incredibly important video, and I'm glad you made it, Mr. Scott. We non scientists have to celebrate results, sure, but also think about everything else that didn't went anywhere, but with the fact that they didn't went anywhere being an important data point to think about. It could be compared to the Higgs Boson going faster than light and that result ending up being an error, or even people watching a juggler playing around with 10 plates with ease, those people not knowing the amount of broken porcelain that came out before what they are seeing.

[MisterBrickFilms]

That Fly Your Thesis program sounds great! But I doubt I could ever justify any zero gravity research in Archaeology :p

[achuth]

Why is the epic slow mo walk not in this video?

[PowllMorgan]

Based on this rather tiny sample size, how many guys watching this are now thinking "I want to study neurology in The Netherlands now"?

[purpleface]

2:08 I see they've begun tests on the human-fidget spinner hybrid.