Bryson Reading #2

Quote: "Lowell was posthumously hailed everywhere as a genius of the first order, and Tombaugh was largely forgotten, except among planetary astronomers,who tend to revere him."

Question: Why did Lowell continue to get credit for research that he didn't finish?

Comment: I didn't understand the reason why Lowell, even though he died before he could finish his research on Pluto, continued to get credit and praise for a study that he didn't finish. Although Tombaugh continued Lowell's research and he eventually finished it. So how come he was forgotten and never given enough credit?

Bryson reading #1

Quote: "Atoms are so numerous and necessary that we easily overlook that they needn't actually exist at all. There is no law that requires the universe to fill itself with small particles of matter or to produce light and gravity and other physical properties on which our existence hinges."

Question: If they are so easily overlooked and sometimes seem pointless, why are there atoms?

Comment: I was curious when I saw this quote and I started thinking, if there is no law that says that atoms are required in everything (like ourselves or the planets) then why are there atoms. And who says that there are atoms in everything, if we haven't traveled to other planets how would scientist know that they are made up out of atoms?