An example of an anthropomorphic metaphor used in popular science writing:
"George-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon…saw the origin of the planetary system as the result of a collision between the sun and a comet that came from the depth of interstellar space. His imagination painted a vivid picture of a 'cométe fatale' with a long brilliant tail brushing the surface of our, at that time lonely, sun, and tearing from its giant body a number of small 'drops', which were sent spinning into space by the force of the impact"
George Gamow (1961) One, Two, Three…Infinity. Facts and speculations of science, Revised Edition, Dover Publications, Inc., New York.
The sun is not, of course, the kind of entity which could actually be lonely, so the anthropomorphism is intended to be a metaphor for a reader to decode.
Read examples of anthropomorphism in science
Buffon's theory would now be considered an alternative conception as it is believed the planets and sun formed from a common 'cloud' of material.
Read about the nature of alternative conceptions
Read about some examples of science misconceptions
Read about historical scientific conceptions
