Avi K. I agree positions of rishonim on science needs to be looked at carefully. Some of the criticism of old science are quite valid – often done with limited experiments. That would mean that these Rishonim understood scientific method and rejected results that might not have been valid.
there is a story going around about Vilna Gaon, who was persuaded to see an eye doctor. He asked the doctor – how many layers are in the eye. He responded – 3. Gaon refused to be treated by the doctor – because it is clear that the doctor read Galen, but did not look at the eye carefully himself. There is a similar story about medieval Muslim philosopher. So, the issue might have been known.