Brilliance Formed?
Look for a few moments at "Pillars of Creation", one of NASA's most famous images of the Eagle Nebula. 
The most common way the formation of stars is explained is that when a collapsing cloud of material is
sufficiently dense to form the stellar core, the process to form the star begins (nuclear fusion). It is much more complicated than that, of course, but I like to look at the way it begins and think about it in terms of ideas. It is often said that there aren't new ideas. I agree with that to some extent.
I'm in the middle of writing my paper and much of what I've written has been said before. True, but a really good idea or paper takes what exists and combines it in a new way. If it contains the right combination of ideas that already existed, it is indeed a new creation that could serve the purpose of igniting new ideas in other people. I can't let my insecurity that my ideas may not be the most scientific ideas ever to exist prevent me from forming them. Who knows? It could be put out there and not much will happen from it, but I won't know if I decide that only those with a doctorate deserve to write a technical paper, or that only those with more of a reputation have a chance. Only pre-formed existing stars are allowed in the universe? That's crazy talk.
I'm about to go see the Grand Canyon this weekend for the first time ever. I got to thinking, "Why am I paying so much money to go see a hole in the ground? Is it going to be disappointing?" People I say that to look at me with horror. They tell me I just have to see it. It isn't called the "big dirt hole", it's called the "Grand Canyon". I'll report back on how much I think is marketing hype.
No one is going to bother to read my paper if I call it the "big dirt hole". Perhaps some marketing is needed to get people to come and see it. If it is good, word of mouth will help me. If it is bad, I can get feedback and try again. Why would this be terrifying? Only because when I finish it, I face the chance of rejection. Also because I overthink everything I do. How many people out there just do it? Just declare "Grand Canyon" when they wonder somewhere deep down, "Is it possibly big dirt hole?"
The most common way the formation of stars is explained is that when a collapsing cloud of material is
sufficiently dense to form the stellar core, the process to form the star begins (nuclear fusion). It is much more complicated than that, of course, but I like to look at the way it begins and think about it in terms of ideas. It is often said that there aren't new ideas. I agree with that to some extent.
I'm in the middle of writing my paper and much of what I've written has been said before. True, but a really good idea or paper takes what exists and combines it in a new way. If it contains the right combination of ideas that already existed, it is indeed a new creation that could serve the purpose of igniting new ideas in other people. I can't let my insecurity that my ideas may not be the most scientific ideas ever to exist prevent me from forming them. Who knows? It could be put out there and not much will happen from it, but I won't know if I decide that only those with a doctorate deserve to write a technical paper, or that only those with more of a reputation have a chance. Only pre-formed existing stars are allowed in the universe? That's crazy talk.
I'm about to go see the Grand Canyon this weekend for the first time ever. I got to thinking, "Why am I paying so much money to go see a hole in the ground? Is it going to be disappointing?" People I say that to look at me with horror. They tell me I just have to see it. It isn't called the "big dirt hole", it's called the "Grand Canyon". I'll report back on how much I think is marketing hype.
No one is going to bother to read my paper if I call it the "big dirt hole". Perhaps some marketing is needed to get people to come and see it. If it is good, word of mouth will help me. If it is bad, I can get feedback and try again. Why would this be terrifying? Only because when I finish it, I face the chance of rejection. Also because I overthink everything I do. How many people out there just do it? Just declare "Grand Canyon" when they wonder somewhere deep down, "Is it possibly big dirt hole?"
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