• Question: Why is evolution considered a theory?

    Asked by anon-248496 to Zoya, Tom, Stacey, Laura, James, Connor on 15 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: James Lees

      James Lees answered on 15 Mar 2020:

      Everything in Science is a Theory. Evolution, Gravity, Germs.

      The problem is that logically you can never actually prove anything correct. Because you might be missing something, or it might work a little bit differently. Instead a theory is a kind of ‘best guess’ that’s backed up by evidence. However Newton’s Gravity was a theory and then was superseded by Einstein’s relativity which may be replaced in the future.

      Calling it a theory is an implicit nod to the fact that as a scientist you can never be 100% sure of anything.

    • Photo: Laura Mason

      Laura Mason answered on 16 Mar 2020:

      Theory is often a misunderstood word when used in a scientific way. It doesn’t simply mean you have an idea. You start with an idea (hypothesis) and if you gather enough evidence to support your hypothesis it can become a theory and must be based on facts

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