Scientists. PAH!

[Derek Smith]

Eric Mc said:

Science is self correcting. If a theory turns out to be rubbish, that will emerge - eventually.

All theories are wrong.

[ewenm]

All theories are falsifiable, but may not yet have been falsified.

As for the OP's link - nothing wrong with the science, the journalism however could be better.

[Derek Smith]

ewenm said:

All theories are falsifiable, but may not yet have been falsified.

As for the OP's link - nothing wrong with the science, the journalism however could be better.

I wasn't suggesting that there was any dishonesty. All I was trying to say is that every theory has been turned over, or substantially changed. Or else they are about to be. Newton invented gravity and then suddenly he was wrong. Luckily, in the gap between Newton being binned and Einstein being accepted angels held onto our ankles to stop us drifting off.

Darwin couldn't come up with a a reason for the method of heredity. Further, there have been many modifications and changes to his original theory. Mind you, all of them will be turned over in years to come.

All a theory is is a temporary explanation of observable facts.

[nellyleelephant]

Derek Smith said:

Eric Mc said:

Science is self correcting. If a theory turns out to be rubbish, that will emerge - eventually.

All theories are wrong.

...until proven right.

[Simpo Two]

I got into trouble here for suggesting that a theory was only an idea. Apparently in the scientific arena a theory is tantamount to a fact.

A good example is the Theory of Gravity - which is obviously right because we're not floating about all over the place

[Derek Smith]

Bedazzled said:

Superseded rather than binned; Newton's laws are still used in a lot of calculations today because they are sufficiently accurate within non-relativistic thresholds, and much simpler to work with.

We flew to the Moon using Newton but we can't use satnav without Einstein. Newton was an approximation. Eeinstein is right at the moment, spot on in fact, but tomorrow, who knows?

[Caruso]

Derek Smith said:

we can't use satnav without Einstein.

Oh I don't know, my old Magellan takes a bit of mental effort, but the new Tom Toms are very user friendly!

[Simpo Two]

Caruso said:

h I don't know, my old Magellan takes a bit of mental effort

Magellan used a compass!

[Caruso]

Simpo Two said:

Magellan used a compass!

...And look where it got him!

[Simpo Two]

Into Magellanic Straits?






Something of a cross between Stephen Fry and Fozzie Bear

[Caruso]

Simpo Two said:

Into Magellanic Straits?

That's dire...

[strudel]

A theory is merely the explanation that best fits the data we have available. Hence why Newton was originally right and still is in most cases, but as technology has grown better we have needed a better explanation. The ability to admit you are wrong is one of science's greatest strengths.

On the other note of this thread - knowledge without context is a dangerous thing.

[Mike600F]

Science is ALL guess-work; essentially it's a bodge-job that's just slowly getting better with time.

Mathematics on the otherhand. . . .

[carmonk]

Mike600F said:

Science is ALL guess-work; essentially it's a bodge-job that's just slowly getting better with time.

Mathematics on the otherhand. . . .

...would be useless without science.

[Jinx]

carmonk said:

...would be useless without science.

Nonsense.

xkcd


Geek fight!

[carmonk]

Jinx said:

carmonk said:

...would be useless without science.

Nonsense.

xkcd


Geek fight!

Exactly, pure maths. Not much use without an application.

[otolith]

carmonk said:

Exactly, pure maths. Not much use without an application.

Everybody needs a hobby.

[R300will]

carmonk said:

Jinx said:

carmonk said:

...would be useless without science.

Nonsense.

xkcd


Geek fight!

Exactly, pure maths. Not much use without an application.

maths confuses itself as much as science if not more. try the square root of -1.

[hairykrishna]

R300will said:

maths confuses itself as much as science if not more. try the square root of -1.

You're about 500 years out of date. Roots of negative numbers are well defined and fairly crucial for calculating all kinds of stuff.

[R300will]

hairykrishna said:

R300will said:

maths confuses itself as much as science if not more. try the square root of -1.

You're about 500 years out of date. Roots of negative numbers are well defined and fairly crucial for calculating all kinds of stuff.

so you use an irrational number that doesn't exist apart from in the mathematicians mind to make a calculation work. sounds accurate