Christian Magnan
Christian Magnan | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | École Normale Supérieure |
| Known for | Critique of dark matter, dark energy and modern cosmology |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrophysics, Cosmology |
| Institutions | Institut d'astrophysique de Paris, Collège de France, Université de Montpellier II |
Christian Magnan (1942–2018) was a French astrophysicist known for his outspoken criticism of contemporary cosmology, particularly the concepts of dark matter and dark energy. He is listed in The Worldwide List of Dissident Scientists.
Career
Born in Marseille in 1942, Magnan studied at the École Normale Supérieure and pursued his research career at the Institut d'astrophysique de Paris, where his work concerned the theory of stellar atmospheres and the formation of spectra in stars whose dynamic states could not be adequately described by classical equilibrium models. He served in a laboratory of the Collège de France and, from 1991, taught and researched at the Université de Montpellier II as part of the Groupe de Recherche en Astronomie et Astrophysique du Languedoc. He was awarded the Prix Damoiseau by the Académie des Sciences.
Views on cosmology
Magnan became widely known as a critical voice against what he regarded as unfounded speculation in modern cosmology. He argued that cosmologists had "engaged in blind alleys" by building models on concepts he considered devoid of physical meaning, singling out dark matter, dark energy and the accelerating expansion of the universe. He also objected to the physical use of mathematical infinity, stating that the mathematical notion of infinity has no physical significance, and disputed claims about the fine-tuning of the universe. He held that scientific conclusions should rest on sound theory and indisputable observation, and considered the evidence for dark matter inconclusive. These positions place him outside the cosmological mainstream.
Books
Magnan wrote several books aimed at a general audience, including La Nature sans foi ni loi (1988), Et Newton croqua la pomme (1990), La science pervertie and Le théorème du jardin (2011).