Science Guide

So you are walking down the street, and in an electronics store front window what do you see, but Sarah Palin saying that she does not believe in evolution.  Why are people not sold on this yet?  Well among other things, many people say that "It is just a theory."  Here is how to rebut that using plain old science-speak.

Many things are "just theories."  For example: the Theory of relativity, or even more basic, the Theory of gravity, or the heliocentric Theory of the solar system.  When you look in a dictionary, you see two main definitions for theory: "–noun, plural -ries: guess or conjecture" and "a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena"  Most people see the first and skip over the second.  Thus, the confusion about what a Theory is in science.  Most people who use this argument against Evolution will only know the first. 

So what is a Theory, really?  Theories come from using the scientific method.  The scientific method is the process which lies at the heart of scientific inquiry.  Scientists will make qualitative and quantitative observations to form hypothesis: a possible explanation for something.  They then make predictions and test them through experiments.  If after many, many tries, the prediction holds true, a Theory is born.  A theory is a set of hypothesis that agree with observations.  Theories are a tested set of hypothesis that give an overall explanation to natural phenomenon.  It is also known as a model. 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Evolution of Different Finch Species"][/caption]

At this point, most people will ask why evolution, if so perfect, is not a law.  Well, a law is just a summary of observed behaviors.  A Theory is an explanation of why those behaviors take place.  So, evolution (t=Theory) is why birds that eat different foods have different types of beaks (law).

So there you have it folks.  In the battle of Theory vs theory, well there is no winner, but you get the point.