Comment by dboreham

The concept that "knowing something has been done" allows others to find the solution to an previously unsolvable problem is an old proven one. For example when Germany launched a rocket (V2 prototype) the British knew its rough trajectory and from spying it's rough size. Although they had previously believed that ballistic missiles weren't possible because no engine could provide the necessary thrust to weight ratio, given the obvious German launching of one, they went through all the known chemical compounds to arrive at the combination (Ethanol and LOX) used. [Story from RV Jones "Most Secret War"].