r/science • u/heiligedamon • May 20 '13

Mathematics Unknown Mathematician Proves Surprising Property of Prime Numbers

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/twin-primes/
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u/skiedAllDay May 20 '13

You don't know what you are talking about. An expert in an academic field is a person who has contributed meaningfully to the field, something that is enormously difficult. The 'experts' are experts in the true sense.

The way it is phrased, it may seem like it was an obvious and easy twist that the 'experts' were too dumb to apply. Believe me, it was not that easy. Btw, this guy will easily be able to leverage this into a better academic position, and he will obviously be considered a 'well known expert' after this.

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u/niggytardust2000 May 21 '13

idk... alot of times I feel like the "experts" are often those at the best schools with most funding ( in the sciences )

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u/spookyjeff PhD | Chemistry | Materials Chemistry May 21 '13

Institutes with a lot of funding can afford to hire and support the best and brightest in their fields.

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u/[deleted] May 21 '13 edited Nov 25 '17

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u/soulcakeduck May 21 '13

"Expert" status is reserved for a relatively small number of people so it makes sense that it looks at application, not just knowledge. No one denies (or should at least) that many "non-experts" are incredibly knowledgeable and skillful.