History of science

Schrödinger's cat was made to criticize quantum mechanics, not explain it. In 1935, Erwin Schrödinger argued that the Copenhagen interpretation absurdly leaves an everyday cat both alive and dead. His critique became quantum theory's best-known illustration.

Humans have 46 chromosomes. Yet after Theophilus Painter reported 48 in 1923, Genetics textbooks taught 48 for over 30 years. Some counted 46 themselves but doubted their eyes. In 1955 Joe Hin Tjio recounted to 46 — and old textbook photos had shown 46 all along.