While this is a hypothetical question, I am actually looking for a 'real-world' answer. This is my first time here, so please let me know if I should ask it somewhere else.
So, let's say I am an ordinary person (i.e. not famous, not a scientist or in academia at all) -- for example, a tax accountant. One day, while tinkering around on the weekends, I accidentally discover something major (eg. cure for cancer).
If this actually happened in the real world, given my lack of connections and publicity, how would I actually let people know, so that they would actually believe me and, after verifying it, put it into production?
Do I just announce it on a public Facebook post and hope someone notices?
Do I email a bunch of newspapers and hope they take me seriously?
Do I beg a reputable scientist to look at my work and use his clout to get a paper published in a prestigious journal?
ps: I was initially going to put 'truly intelligent AI' as my hypothetical discovery, but then the obvious answer to my question would be: ask the AI ;)