Claim: The process of scientific discovery relies heavily on building upon previous knowledge and collaboration among scientists.
Evidence: In the excerpt, it mentions how Edwin Hubble's work was influenced by earlier scientists like Nicolaus Copernicus, who proposed that the Sun is at the center of our solar system, and Pierre-Simon Laplace, who created mathematical models about celestial movements. Hubble's discovery that the Andromeda "Nebula" is actually a separate galaxy was possible because of the foundational ideas laid out by these earlier scientists.
Reasoning: This shows that scientific advancements are like building blocks; one discovery often leads to another, and scientists depend on each other's work to deepen their understanding. For example, without Copernicus's and Laplace's contributions, Hubble might not have been able to make his groundbreaking discoveries about galaxies and the expanding universe. In this way, science progresses through collaboration and the accumulation of knowledge over time.