# The Basics of Science > [!abstract] What is Science? > > 1. An attempt to *explain natural phenomena* > 2. A result of contributions made by *people from all cultures* > 3. *Durable*, but tentative (subject to change) > 4. *Varied*, there is no one way to do science > 5. *Subjective*, based on cultural and historical context > 6. One of many different *methods of thinking* **Scientific Law:** Summarizes a set of observations about natural phenomena - *Almost always a mathematical equation (Ex: $E = mc^2$)* **Scientific Theory:** Explains why natural phenomena occur - Presently relied upon as being accurate/true - Can be modified based on new information **Hypothesis:** An educated guess or prediction based on previously known information/observations. - We DO NOT "prove" a hypothesis, instead, evidence collected from experiments can be used to *support* a hypothesis. ## The Scientific Method ![[Pasted image 20220803175042.png|400]] **Observations:** When you use your senses to gather information about something. - *Examples:* - "The plant is wilted" - "The car stopped running" **Inferences:** When you attempt to explain your observations using previous knowledge. - *Examples:* - "The plant is wilted due to a lack of water" - "The car stopped running because it was out of gas" ## Falsifiability & Pseudoscience **Pseudoscience:** A collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on the [[scientific method]]. ![[Pasted image 20220803175021.png]] | Pseudoscience | Definition | | --- | --- | | Alchemy | A medieval practice based on the transformation of matter (lead to gold) | | Phrenology | Using the topology of the skull to indicate the personality of a person | | Quackery | Promotion of fraudulent medical practices | --- **Falsifiability:** A claim/hypothesis is not falsifiable if there is no possible outcome where it can be wrong - *Falsifiable Claims:* - "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." - *Non-Falsifiable Claims:* - "Invisible gremlins live in my freezer.""