And, Amos, I seem to recall reading about an article printed in the New York Times in the early 1920s, while Robert Goddard's rocket experiments were making news, explaning that space travel was impossible because there was nothing to push against. It was written by a well-known physicist who should have known better. Unfortunately, I've forgotten who it was.

Just goes to show that everybody, no matter how well versed in their subject, can have lapses that make them look like jerks!