Does science know everything there is to know about the universe? ?

Question

If not, does that then leave room for the paranormal?

Answer 1

Ah yes!  The old "Infinite Knowledge" response.  "If you don't know everything, how can you be sure that you know this is (or isn't) true (or false)".  How do you know God created the Universe?  Were you there?

Really poor thought process.  Not used much by truly knowledgable, intelligent people.

OF COURSE NOT.  We don't know everything about the universe.  In fact, most of what we "know" is actually THEORY. Most of it remains unproven, but it works none the less. Fertile ground for scientific research.

The true "thinker" examines the facts as presented, and does not concern himself with the unknown.  What do actual observations show? Can we measure it? Can we repeat the phenomenon?  Its when measurement doesn't support theory that we have to backup and rethink.

And in this case, there is a definate LACK of evidence for paranormal activity. Almost everything can be explained, and that which cannot be explained cannot be measured and thus cannot be researched.  No one can measure a ghost. Those people who bend spoons have been proven to be stage magicians. Nobody can perform telekinesis on an object inside a sealed box.

Now, there is ALWAYS the possibility that sometime somewhere someone will catch a jar full of protoplasm, or somebody will be able to get 100% on a psi-test each and every time, or that somebiody will predict earthquakes any time and anywhere using a crystal ball,  but until those times we need to focus ourselves on making the best use of the world we have at hand.

Answer 2

No it doesn't know anything at all .It has theories.

Answer 3

Of course not, we can never scientifically know all there is to know.  Does that leave room for the paranormal?  As has been said before, you cannot use scientific reasoning to logically prove that the paranormal cannot exist. Similarly, neither can you logically prove that leprechauns cannot exist. Rather, the relevant question is whether the existence of the paranormal is likely or not, and whether it is supported by evidence or not. The burden of evidence is on those who propose a claim, not on those who say "show me the evidence before I accept it". In my view as a scientist who has perhaps spent more time than most in becoming familiar with the evidence that exists, acceptance of paranormal claims (e.g., ghosts, telekinesis, alien visitations, etc) isn't justified by the available evidence. That doesn't prove that they are impossible, but lack of proof of impossibility is not a tacit claim of credibility.

None of what I say here is new at all. I've been saying this a long time and it seems to me that many of the regular skeptics here have proposed similar thoughts on the subject. It just tends to fall on deaf ears much of the time.

Answer 4

It is, in fact, close minded to simply accept what others claim on their word alone.

Here is an example of the errant thought process that,  "if it can't be proven wrong, then it must be true" (or, at least, possible):

If I claim there is a Dragon living in my garage you, by the above admission, MUST believe it to be true; since YOU can not prove me wrong. (remember, it is irrelevant if I believe my claim or not - things exist or they do not).

The point is, you should only even begin to buy into my claim if I provide suficient evidence for it (burden of proof and all).

Is this our only course of action? No, we ask questions pertaining to the claim (could I have mistaken another animal for a dragon? etc.)

Science gives us an evidentiary history to many events. When Skeptics apparently "brush off" claims to the paranormal it isn't due to close mindedness, it is because the "new" claims are simply rehashed (and already "naturally explained") old ones (the "causes" don't change from natural to non-natural between claims).

"Believers" seem to think skeptics are just trying to ruin the fun. This is not true; few skeptics say the paranormal is impossible - just that it is not verifiable. I personally think many paranormal claims would be cool if validated - simply put, I have no reason to think they are valid and MANY reasons to think they are natural.

Further, most "believers" also apparently don't understand scientists: they would LOVE to find some new area of hitherto unknown science (explanations, energy, whatever - it would make them famous). The reason they gave up on the paranormal is that it gives them nothing.

Again, if we (as humans) were to give creedence to, and believe, any claims made, we would go crazy trying to keep up with it all. The default condition is credulity until given reason for acceptance.

Answer 5

Like I stated before, the universe is full of unexplained mysteries & surprises that have not been uncovered. I don't think they will ever know everything about the universe (at least not in our lifetime).

Answer 6

no, science does not know everything.  they are still learning like the rest of us.

Answer 7

Nobody knows everything about the universe.  What do you mean by paranormal?   Do you mean UFOs and Aliens or something else?  There will always be questions about space, its to big to ever fully be understood.

Answer 8

of course science doesn't know all about the universe. paranormal could be found any day.

Answer 9

  There's always more to know... interestingly enough, very few scientists will actually refute the idea of all paranormal activity. What is usually cited in such situations is a general lack of concrete evidence.  

Answer 10

Scientists don't know everything.  For example, nobody has so far been able to explain how gravity works.

But, by definition, "paranormal" means "outside the normal".  In other words, it can include just about anything that's unexplainable using "normal" science.

That said, the "norms" of science are changing all the time as knowledge is gained and more mysteries are uncovered.  What we might call a drafty house that has air currents that cause doors to close by themselves today might have been called haunted two centuries ago.

So, there's certainly room for paranormal phenomenon, and there's nothing odd about that.

Answer 11

The answer to your first question is obvious. As to the second, the problem is that when the methods of science are applied to "paranormal" phenomena, they either disappear or become explainable, in which case they are no longer paranormal.

Answer 12

No scientists dont even know half of everything in our universe.  Though they and other people would like to believe they know everything there is to know, they dont.  Yes there is so much room for the paranormal.  God bless!

Answer 13

Not even close. We need to put some serious funds towards NASA!

Answer 14

scientists definitely do not know everything about our universe.  i think that in a couple hundred years people will look back at our time and thing, "man, they were stupid".  I see all these shows about bigfoot and other 'monsters' and I really don't think they exist.  I do think we will contact aliens one day... for sure.  I mean, the universe is so vast, I'm sure we're not the only ones in it.  I think there are some things that now are considered paranormal, but will eventually have an explanation, but there is so much room for learning about our world, let alone our universe.

Answer 15

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that science does not know everything about the universe.  And I don't know what you mean by paranormal, but certainly it leaves room for the unseen world and for the things of the spirit.

Maggie

Answer 16

There's more science doesn't know about the universe.Probably we never will answer all the questions.There is room for all knowledge including the paranormal.All that need be done is come up with some good evidence of it.As soon as someone does that.I'm sure science will fit it right in with what we think we do know about the universe

Answer 17

Obviously, as others have said, science does not know everything about the universe.  However, in regards to paranormal, we do know that as of yet no one has shown decent scientifically acceptable evidence that they exist (telekinesis, ghosts, ufo, etc).  To say they are impossible is unscientific, but to say that they are credible because they can't be proved impossible is equally unscientific.  If more people would apply simple logic and scientific principles perhaps some of the mountains of false claims would fall away and leave the people who investigate this stuff more time to study events that are truly unexplainable, and the science of the paranormal could move forward.

Answer 18

No. They don't and that's why there are so many theories, ideas, and questions. That's why we are able to wonder about things and why there are things that are paranormal :)