Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

No, incorrect. In science nothing is ever REALLY proven.

But there are standards by which scientists agree that a certain amount of evidence will be accepted as "proof". At least for a while. Where everyone understand that it could always be overturned by some evidence to the contrary.

In particle physics it takes five sigma to make a claim. In other fields, often less. http://blogs.wsj.com/numbers/the-particle-proof-1150/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_evidence#Concept_of_...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability

For example everyone knew that water boiled once it got hot enough. Then someone invented a pressure vessel and wasn't able to boil water over a fire because as the pressure rose, so did the boiling point. And thus a thing that everyone knew was true for thousands of years wasn't quite anymore.



Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: