Why is theory taught as fact?

Question

I watched the Science channels regularly. And sometimes I am baffled by the lack of evidence supporting their elbaorate theories.

They show you a bone, no a piece of a bone of a jaw, and they make up the size of the creature, the skin, their eating habits. they way they structured their society. Is it just me or many of these shows seem like a strechted out web of science with a lot of imaginantion?

Answer 1

Scientists do have active imaginations.  They can take a mathematical anomaly and turn it into a black hole.

However, their conjectures are based on their current knowledge set.  To me, they aren't stating facts.  They are just making conjectures based on their level of knowledge in a specific discipline and their ability to extrapolate from that knowledge set and perceive a notion which is plausible, even if not provable.

Answer 2

Theory, in scientific terms, is much different then how everyday peopole use it. we use it almost as nonchalantly as a hunch at times.Theories, in th scientific world have been checked out many times through experiments and research, it is basivcally a fact. the reason it is not considered a fact is because information and equipment for studies changes so frequently. Remem,ber how the world used ot be "flat"?  i'm not saying that science is that far behind, but it allows for information to change.

Answer 3

well

      good question.actually theory means a imaginary fact  given data by theorist.basically a theorist should have sharp brain to analyse the data. so given answer by him is almost 70 r 75% correct.

    my answer to ur Qtion is they study it by genetic checks, carbon datingan &etc..........so & so of wht period it belongs to in that period what the creatures it contain wht they eatetc...in this way the can calculate it.

          to experience it u also should enjoy the thing by ur own.

                                                                                            

keep questioning & answering

                                                   bye.......................

Answer 4

You're watching television, moron.  

These channels produce television shows that will entertain people so the channels can then make money.  This may be a hard concept for you, but since it is ENTERTAINMENT, maybe you should accept the fact that they are not going to present all of the evidence that led to their conclusions during an hour long show.  Not to mention, there are no academic standards for these shows, so if someone wants to make wildly inaccurate claims, they can.  No respectable academic gets their information from TV anyway.  If you are looking for more proof of their conclusions, perhaps you should attend a lecture or go to graduate school or maybe just read a f*cking book.

It is very possible to tell the size of creature, its eating habits, where it lived, when it lived, and many many other things just from a fragment of a bone.  Of course, if you were half as smart and analytical as you think you are, then you would already know that.

Answer 5

unfortunately even the Discovery channel is about entertainment.

Otherwise we would not be insulted with shows like the locness monster, aliens; are they among us and the Bermuda triangle.

Answer 6

I have not seen any scientist find a piece of bone and then use only that as evidence of how they structured their society.  If they find a piece of a bone, it may indeed be enough to determine the original size of that bone, and eventually estimate the animal's size.

Give some facts that they've mentioned and tell how they backed up their claims.