How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph) Note that chapters aren't numbered, so need to be numbered manually, 1 to 14.
Quote #1
At that time the Gamow-Shapley theory—that life was impossible on planets which are satellites of two solar bodies—was firmly believed. (2.11)
This is one of the first future scientific theories we hear about… and of course, it's wrong. Science is almost always wrong in Solaris.
Quote #2
"Do you intend continuing with the experiments?"
He gave a contemptuous shrug:
"What good would that do?" (3.118-120)
Experiments are useless, so abandon all hope, science folks. Your test tubes will not help you.
Quote #3
"You must know that science is concerned with phenomena rather than causes." (6.105)
Snow is saying that science can just catalogue or observe what happens; it can't tell you the cause of what happens. For example, science tells us how gravity works, but we still don't have a very good or certain explanation of why gravity works.
Quote #4
"The source of all the various forms observed by Berton is Fechner—rather, Fechner's brain, subjected to an unimaginable 'psychic dissection' for the purposes of a sort of re-creation, an experimental reconstruction, based on impressions (undoubtedly the most durable ones) engraved on his memory." (6.259)
The scientists are speculating about the actions of the ocean, which they think is acting like a scientist and performing an experiment. So… is the ocean really performing scientific experiments? Or is that just the sort of thing a scientist would think? Are scientists discovering new things, or are they just discovering themselves? Which would mean the ocean as scientist is just finding its own damp visage inside Fechner, too.
Quote #5
But the final step, into the heart of the matter, had taken me nowhere. (7.137)
Again, this is how science works in Solaris. You look closer and closer and closer and then you're looking at nothing. Though, note that in this case "nothing" is really the truth; Kelvin is studying Rheya's blood, and finds that ultimately it is made out of nothing. And Rheya really is made out of nothing—she's just an imaginary character in a book—so science tells the truth. Go science, go.
Quote #6
"I don't know. I'm not a physicist." (7.166)
Shmoop laughed at this. No one knows anything in Solaris, and the sci-fi explanations tend to be gobbledygook. The idea that it would all be explained if only we could get hold of a physicist just seems pretty funny. To Shmoop. At the moment.
Quote #7
"Sartorius has decided that it may be possible to use some form of energy to destabilize the neutrino structure." (8.43)
Shmoop likes the vagueness here: "[…] some form of energy to destabilize the neutrino structures." Sure, and Shmoop has decided that it may be possible to use some form of gehusaphritz to nemotize the flutterblurts. That'll show 'em.
Quote #8
It plays variations on the theme of a given object and embroiders 'formal extensions' that amuse it for hour on end, to the delight of the non-figurative artist and the despair of the scientist, who is at a loss to grasp any common theme in the performance. (8.63)
Here the ocean is presented as not being a scientist, but as an artist. In fact, it sounds kind of like it might be Lem himself, throwing up elaborations or noodling off there as he makes up his world, to the despair of other science fiction writers, who like things neater (with fewer flutterblurts).
Quote #9
Grastram set out to demonstrate that the most abstract achievements of science, the most advanced theories and victories of mathematics, represented nothing more than a stumbling, one or two-step progression from our rude, prehistoric, anthropomorphic understanding of the universe around us. (11.61)
More about how scientists know nothing. In particular, Grastram is saying that science is still anthropomorphic, which means it still sees the universe in terms of human beings. Scientists look at Solaris and see a huge brain, because the brain is the only thing that they have to look with.
Quote #10
There were also visionless dreams, where in an unmoving, clotted silence I felt myself being slowly and minutely explored, although no instrument or hand touched me. Yet I felt myself being invaded through and through. (12.13)
Another vision of the ocean as scientist, since it seems like the ocean that is examining him here. But… it might also be the reader, right? You're looking into Kelvin and invading him just like dissecting a frog. Though with less green innards, hopefully.