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Debunking the “Ancient Alien” concept
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Feb 17, 2024 10:41:06   #
Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio
 
Wyantry wrote:
Not at all. Scientific theories may be falsified (disproven) at any time, by new evidence. Theories may be revised, or new evidence explaning phenomena may be found.

A great example is from physics:
Newton formalized the theory of Universal Gravitational Attraction — an instantaneous attractive force acting upon every object in the universe (and proportional to distance).

Einstein revised this by introducing the limiting factor of the speed of light. PREDICTED gravity would attract (bend) light — this was verified by observers during a solar eclipse. Stars that should have been occluded by the solar disk were visible!
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Another “adjustment” to the theoretical explanation of the cosmos with Newton’s laws, was the explanation of increased mass at higher velocities, and time-dilation at high velocities. These were not even addressed by Newton, yet were PREDICTED by Einstein’s theories, and OBSERVATION confirmed those theoretical predictions.
So the previous theories were AMENDED when special conditions were known to exist.
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Another classic example of a theory’s logic was Mendeleev’s theory of the organization of the chemical elements.
Prior to Mendeleev, there had been numerous attempts to order the elements. Several hypotheses were advanced, but none accounted for all observed phenomena or chemical reactivity.

Mendeleev arranged the known elements by mass / atomic number (number of protons), and put them in groups according to their outermost shell electron count (valence electrons).
When completed, there were several “gaps” where elements should, according to Mendeleev’s theory, exist. At later dates these elements were identified, and were found to have the physical and chemical properties predicted.
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Quite a lot was known about breeding and trait inheritance, yet it was not scientifically studied with controlled experiments until Friar aGregor Mendel devised, carried out, analyzed and formulated specific methods of inheritance. His experiments with peas established the basis for genetics — a true theory and explanation of previous “theories” of inheritance.
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There are (almost) innumerable instances of theories being disproven, discarded, modified or altered based upon new or more precise evidence.
Not at all. Scientific theories may be falsified... (show quote)


I think you are arguing semantics. According to the scientific method, hypotheses are stated with a series of tests specified to determine whether they are true or false. If the tests fail, the hypothesis is shown to be false and the hypothesis is not considered a theory.

But once accepted as a theory, it can be modified at any time with more hypotheses and tests. As you mentioned, Newton's theory of gravitation was modified by Einstein by the scientific method, i.e., further hypotheses and tests and were proven true. But the story doesn't end there because we now have both dark matter and dark energy to consider, both of which appear to be unexplained gravitational phenomenon. Also, the long-sought gravitational waves predicted by Einstein's theory have apparently been observed recently.

The only time theories stop being theories is when they are disproven or proven to the extent they become laws, e.g., Newton's laws of motion.

BTW, an impressive presentation of the origins and state of scientific theories.

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Feb 24, 2024 16:34:55   #
Ed Commons
 
Wyantry wrote:
A serious analysis of the failings of various “ancient aliens” claims.

The claims are just that — they do not even rise to the level of Hypothesis, and certainly not to the level of scientifically verifiable Theory.

https://www.ancientaliensdebunked.com/

A long (3 hr) analysis.


Who's to say that Aliens have or have not visited Earth. Perhaps they are still waiting for intelligent life to evolve.

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Feb 25, 2024 05:59:36   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Ed Commons wrote:
Who's to say that Aliens have or have not visited Earth. Perhaps they are still waiting for intelligent life to evolve.


If they're looking for intelligent life, I think they've realized that this is the wrong planet.

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Feb 25, 2024 09:25:34   #
Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio
 
jerryc41 wrote:
If they're looking for intelligent life, I think they've realized that this is the wrong planet.


The opposite of that is the surest sign that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is that they haven't tried to visited us here.

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Feb 25, 2024 10:25:40   #
Canisdirus
 
Reuss Griffiths wrote:
The opposite of that is the surest sign that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is that they haven't tried to visited us here.


Ironic post...

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