The most famous example is, of course, the case of the stability of the solar system. After Issac Newton showed that his equations of motion and the inverse square law of gravity explained the orbits of the 6 known planets in the solar system, he became concerned that the two body interplanetary interactions might cause the system to become unstable over time. Instead of investigating this problem, he invoked a supernatural explanation, proposing that the system was kept stable by the intervention of god at the appropriate times. Clearly, this was an example of a science stopper. One hundred years later, the French mathematician Laplace actually performed calculations using a technique known as perturbation theory and demonstrated that, in fact, the solar system was stable over long periods of time. Supposedly, he presented a copy of a treatise on the subject to Napoleon, who, after skimming through it queried Laplace as to what role god might play (apparently, Napoleon was familiar with Newtons’ argument). Laplace is supposed to have replied that he had no need of that hypothesis.

Somehow it reminds me of a story from the cold war.

Tasked with identifying new Soviet anti submarine weapons, an elite (I admit I am mocking here) think tank called Team B (apparently set up by Donald Rumsfeld and G HW Bush) decided that since there was absolutely no evidence that the Soviets had any such tech (specifically related to detection of subs without using sound), it must be even better than they had imagined.