[jamesduke (OP)]

As an average person, without connections in the science community I think I've stumbled upon an idea that could be, well, "huge". Now I'm not so sure how to evaluate the validity or novelty of the idea? Should I be afraid that someone steals the idea and get's credit? How do you validate your ideas?

[Colin2B]

You can't patent or copyright ideas only specific mechanisms and specific wording.

If you publish a concept, say in the New Theories section of this site, people will give you credit as the originator, however, you might then find it difficult to patent any device based on the idea or others might use your ideas.

As long as you are not claiming to have invented perpetual motion you will get a good, but critical, hearing here.
You could also see if one of the moderators would give your idea a look over via pm.

Do you want to hint the field or area this is in?

[alancalverd]

Depends on the nature of the "idea".

If it is a novel means of doing something, a patent is the most secure way of establishing priority of invention, and is usually the first step to getting your device or process to market - potential manufacturers will want to see at least a filed patent application or design registration before discussing the practicalities of making and selling it. Whilst a full patent isn't cheap, the first application fee is nominal and strongly recommended.

If the idea is a scientific hypothesis, you will need to show how it explains or predicts something not explained or predicted by the current best approach. In the case of an explanation, you will need to show how yours consists with existing experimental data in related areas, and in the case of a prediction, you will need to describe the critical experiment that would disprove your hypothesis, or calculate a testable result that is different from the current best guess. Then preferably do the experiment and include the result in your paper, or submit your paper to a theoretical science journal: the submission date will establish priority of invention and whilst there can be no absolute guarantee, the referees of reputable journals are sworn not to steal ideas.

As Colin says, you can get help by hinting at the field of study in this forum: if one of the correspondents shows interest you can establish his/her credentials through Google and invoke a Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) (make sure it is under your national law) before indulging in private correspondence. Joint authorship with a known expert can increase your chances of publication and the NDA can note that you are the principal inventor, with the other party named as a drafting consultant only.

Go on, give us a hint! Medicine, chemistry, physics, engineering, agriculture...?     

 

[alysdexia]

As long as you are not claiming to have invented perpetual motion you will get a good, but critical, hearing here.

Oh you mean like the Hubble flow or internal vis?