Casual and Scientific Use of "Theory" and "Law"

Summary

This video script explores the nuanced difference between the casual and scientific use of the term 'theory.' It uses the example of earthworms coming out after rain to illustrate misconceptions and the scientific method. It clarifies that a scientific theory is a well-supported explanation, not just a guess, and contrasts it with scientific laws, which describe natural phenomena. The script also hints at the reasons behind earthworm behavior post-rain, inviting viewers to explore further.

Takeaways

• 🌧️ The speaker used to find earthworms in puddles after rain and wondered why they were out of their safe soil environment.
• 🤔 Before the internet, the speaker came up with various ideas about why earthworms might be in puddles, highlighting the difference between casual and scientific thinking.
• 🆚 The speaker clarifies the difference between a casual 'theory' and a scientific 'theory', emphasizing that the latter is supported by evidence and testing.
• 🔬 A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation that has been tested and is backed by scientific evidence, unlike a casual theory which might be just an opinion or guess.
• ❌ The speaker refutes the misconception that scientific theories can 'graduate' into scientific laws, explaining that they are fundamentally different concepts.
• 📚 Scientific laws describe natural phenomena, often mathematically, while scientific theories provide explanations for these phenomena.
• 🌐 Examples of scientific laws include Newton's second law of motion and Mendel's laws of genetics, which describe how things work but do not explain why they occur.
• 🧐 The speaker expresses a wish for a different word for 'theory' in science to avoid confusion with its casual use, highlighting the importance of precise terminology.
• 🔍 The script encourages viewers to explore further reading about earthworm behavior during rain, offering resources for those curious about the topic.
• 🌟 The Amoeba Sisters remind viewers to stay curious, emphasizing the value of questioning and exploring scientific phenomena.

Q & A

Why did the speaker find earthworms in puddles after it rained?

The speaker observed earthworms in puddles after rain and initially wondered why they would leave the safety of their soil homes to risk their lives in puddles.

What was the speaker's initial hypothesis about earthworms' behavior during rain?

The speaker initially hypothesized that earthworms might be attracted to water or that the rainwater flooding their tunnels confused them, causing them to dig upwards into puddles.

Why did the speaker feel compelled to rescue the earthworms?

The speaker felt compelled to rescue the earthworms because they were getting stuck in puddles and the speaker considered earthworms to be 'pretty cool'.

What is the difference between a casual use of the word 'theory' and a scientific theory?

In casual use, 'theory' might be an opinion, hunch, or guess, whereas a scientific theory is an explanation supported by scientific evidence, fortified by facts, and tested repeatedly.

Why is it incorrect to dismiss a scientific theory as 'just a theory'?

A scientific theory cannot be dismissed as 'just a theory' because it is backed by scientific facts and evidence, and has undergone repeated testing.

What is the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?

A scientific theory provides an explanation for natural phenomena, whereas a scientific law describes these phenomena. Theories are backed by evidence and testing, while laws are often represented mathematically.

Can scientific theories be disproven or modified?

Yes, scientific theories can be disproven or modified as new evidence is discovered and tested.

What are some examples of scientific laws mentioned in the script?

Examples of scientific laws mentioned include Newton's second law of motion and Mendel's laws of genetics, such as the law of segregation of genes, law of independent assortment, and the law of dominance.

Why did the speaker once believe that theories could graduate into laws?

The speaker's misconception may have stemmed from learning how a bill becomes a law, leading to a misunderstanding that scientific theories follow a similar path.

What does the speaker suggest about the use of the word 'theory' in science?

The speaker suggests that science might benefit from using a different word for 'theory' to avoid confusion with the casual, everyday use of the term.

What does the speaker recommend for those curious about earthworm behavior during rain?

The speaker recommends checking out further reading suggestions in the video description, which mention different researcher hypotheses about why earthworms may come out when it rains.

Outlines

00:00

🌧️ Earthworms and Theories

The speaker begins by discussing the casual use of the word 'theory' and its difference from its scientific meaning. They share a personal anecdote about finding earthworms in puddles after rain, which led to various untested hypotheses. The speaker clarifies that a scientific theory is a well-supported explanation backed by evidence and has undergone rigorous testing, unlike everyday theories, which are often just opinions or guesses. The paragraph distinguishes between scientific theories and laws, explaining that laws describe phenomena, while theories provide explanations. It also mentions notable scientific theories like atomic theory, general relativity, and cell theory, and laws such as Newton's second law of motion and Mendel's laws of genetics.

Keywords

💡Earthworms

Earthworms are annelid worms that typically live in the soil. In the video, the speaker recounts a childhood curiosity about why earthworms would emerge from the soil into puddles after rain, which could be dangerous for them. This anecdote serves as an introduction to the theme of the video, which is about the difference between casual and scientific uses of terms. The earthworm example also leads to a discussion about hypotheses and scientific theories.

💡Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a suggested explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through experiments or further research. In the script, the speaker reflects on their childhood ideas about earthworms as potential hypotheses, highlighting the importance of testing ideas in science. Hypotheses are foundational to the scientific method and are used to guide investigations.

💡Scientific Theory

A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on empirical evidence and repeated testing. The video emphasizes that a scientific theory is not a casual guess but a robust explanation supported by facts. Examples from the video include atomic theory, the theory of general relativity, and cell theory, all of which are central to scientific understanding in their respective fields.

💡Casual vs. Scientific Use of 'Theory'

The video script discusses the difference between the casual use of the term 'theory' in everyday language, where it might refer to a personal opinion or guess, and its scientific usage, where it denotes a well-supported explanation. This distinction is crucial for understanding scientific discourse and avoiding misconceptions about the certainty and reliability of scientific knowledge.

💡Scientific Law

A scientific law is a concise, general statement that describes a fundamental principle or relationship in nature. The video clarifies that scientific laws and theories are different; laws describe phenomena, often mathematically, without explaining why they occur. Examples given include Newton's second law of motion and Mendel's laws of genetics.

💡Puddles

Puddles are small pools of water that form on the ground after rain. In the video, the speaker's observation of earthworms in puddles after rain sparks curiosity and leads to the main discussion about the scientific method. Puddles serve as a metaphor for the unexpected places where scientific questions can arise.

💡Rescue

In the context of the video, 'rescue' refers to the speaker's actions as a child to help earthworms out of puddles. This act of rescue is used to illustrate a personal connection to the subject matter and to emphasize the speaker's early interest in the natural world, which later informs their scientific understanding.

💡Misconception

A misconception is a false or inaccurate understanding of a concept. The video mentions the speaker's childhood misconception that scientific theories could 'graduate' into laws, which is corrected to clarify the distinct roles of theories and laws in science. Misconceptions are highlighted as something to be aware of and corrected in the pursuit of knowledge.

💡General Relativity

General relativity is a scientific theory proposed by Albert Einstein, which describes the fundamental interaction of gravitation as a result of spacetime being curved by mass and energy. In the video, it is mentioned as an example of a well-established scientific theory that is supported by extensive evidence and has been tested repeatedly.

💡Cell Theory

Cell theory is a fundamental concept in biology that states all living organisms are composed of cells, which are the basic units of life. The video mentions cell theory as an example of a scientific theory that is foundational to understanding life and is supported by a wealth of scientific evidence.

💡Stay Curious

The phrase 'stay curious' is a recurring theme in the video, encouraging viewers to maintain a sense of wonder and inquiry about the world. It reflects the spirit of scientific exploration and the importance of asking questions, which is central to the scientific method and the advancement of knowledge.

Highlights

The difference between casual and scientific use of the word 'theory'.

Earthworms coming out of the soil after rain and the misconceptions about why.

The importance of rescuing earthworms from puddles.

The definition of a hypothesis and how it differs from a personal theory.

The scientific definition of a theory and its requirements.

The difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law.

Examples of scientific theories: atomic theory, general relativity, and cell theory.

The idea that scientific theories can be disproven or modified.

The misconception that theories graduate into laws in science.

The distinction between scientific laws and theories in terms of description and explanation.

Examples of scientific laws: Newton's second law of motion and Mendel's laws.

The role of scientific laws in describing natural phenomena without explaining why.

The importance of understanding the difference between casual and scientific uses of 'theory' and 'law'.

The wish for a different word for scientific theory to avoid confusion with casual use.

Further reading suggestions on why earthworms come out when it rains.

The reminder to stay curious from Amoeba Sisters.

Transcripts

Captions are on! Click CC at bottom right to turn off.

Some words used casually have different meanings than when used scientifically.

I’m going to give you an example.

When I was younger, I noticed that sometimes after it rained, I’d find earthworms in

puddles.

And I’d wonder---why are these earthworms coming out of the soil where they are safe

and risking their very lives in these puddles?!

I mean, I was pretty sure they didn’t like being in the puddles; they were getting stuck

in them for some reason.

Keep in mind this was before the age of googling information, and I came up with all kinds

of ideas.

Maybe the earthworms actually were crazy about water, but they didn’t know how bad it was

out there until they found themselves stuck in a puddle.

Maybe when it rained, the water flooded their underground tunnels, but it somehow confused

or disoriented them so instead of digging down they dug up, launching themselves into

a puddle.

Either way, it was my job to rescue them, because hey, earthworms are pretty cool.

Something I can add to my resume.

My ideas about why earthworms ventured out when it rained were not really correct.

If anything, maybe one of these ideas could have been used to develop a hypothesis, which

I could have decided to test.

A hypothesis can be defined as a suggested explanation that I could then test.

But, see, back when I was a young kid, I would have told you that these were my own personal

theories.

And that’s the problem with this word “theory.”

The word “theory” tends to be casually used in this way in everyday life all the

time; I’m sure you’ve heard your friend say before, “I have a theory about that…”

When using the word “theory” in everyday life, “theory” might be an opinion, hunch,

or guess.

You might say you have a theory about why there is a water stain on a ceiling or why

sushi is amazing but it’s important to understand that you are using the word “theory” very

casually.

See, a scientific theory is a very different thing.

A scientific theory is an explanation supported by scientific evidence.

It’s fortified by facts.

It’s been tested, repeatedly.

And if you want a more detailed definition of a scientific theory, we have a link in

our video details to recommend.

The thing is, a scientific theory cannot be dismissed as “just a theory.”

In order to reach the level of scientific theory, a scientific theory must be backed

by science facts and evidence supporting it, with repeated testing.

There are many theories in science.

There’s a theory of the atom- atomic theory.

There’s the theory of general relativity.

There’s the cell theory that we frequently talk about in many of our videos.

Now while scientific theories can be disproven or modified, it is important to understand

that the word “theory” in science has such a different meaning than the casual use

of the word “theory.”

When I was younger, I used to think that theories one day could graduate into laws.

I think my misconception had something to do with me learning how a bill becomes a law

and somehow I thought scientific theories followed a similar path.

I’m really not sure where I got this misconception.

But in case you have it too, scientific theories do not graduate into scientific laws.

They can’t.

Because they’re completely different things.

One is not more powerful than the other either; the word “law” might sound more fancy

but it’s not---they truly are just different things.

But they are both very important in science.

Scientific laws tend to describe a natural phenomena; whereas a scientific theory can

provide a scientific explanation for it.

Many scientific laws are even represented mathematically.

For example, Newton’s second law of motion shows how acceleration is related to the force

and mass of the object.

It can be written mathematically here.

But as a law, it tends to describe…not explain why.

Since we tend to specialize more with biology, let’s not forget about Mendel’s laws.

He’s often called the father of genetics: he has three laws that you can explore: law

of the segregation of genes, law of independent assortment, and the law of dominance.

These laws describe phenomena happening with his pea plant experiments.

And while these laws each describe a natural phenomena, they don’t give an explanation

of why the phenomena happens.

As a side note, that actually would have been really hard to do as DNA wasn’t yet understood

in his time.

Understanding how the casual use of the word “theory” differs from the scientific use

of the word “theory”…as well as understanding how theories and laws are different things…are

all really important in science.

Sometimes I wish science had a different word from “theory” just because the casual

everyday use of that word is so different from the scientific use of that word.

And before we go…in case you also have had been curious this whole time about why earthworms

may come out when it rains and may find themselves in puddles…check out some further reading

suggestions that mention different researcher hypotheses in the video description.

It’s pretty fascinating.

Well, that’s it for the Amoeba Sisters, and we remind you to stay curious.