What makes a discovery?

Journal Article · 05 May 2024 · Nuclear Physics. B

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2024.116458 · OSTI ID:2279062

Hooper, Dan  ^[1]

---

1. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); University of Chicago, IL (United States). Kavli Inst. for Cosmological Physics (KICP); University of Chicago, IL (United States)

In this contribution to the proceedings of the 182nd Nobel Symposium, I reflect on the concept of “discovery” as it is used by physicists and astronomers. In particular, I comment on how the scientific community distinguishes discoveries from propositions that are supported only by lesser forms of evidence, emphasizing the social nature of this process and remarking on the subjective factors that go into making such judgments. I advocate for an approach that is intentionally Bayesian in nature, in which individuals are encouraged to evaluate and publicly state their priors and to update them systematically. I close by applying these practices to the case example of the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359
• OSTI ID: 2279062
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-CONF--23-782-T; arXiv:2312.00672; oai:inspirehep.net:2729304
• Journal Information: Nuclear Physics. B, Journal Name: Nuclear Physics. B Vol. 1003; ISSN 0550-3213
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English