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A scientific theory is exactly what it sounds like, a theory about science. These theories are really the opinions of scientists. Any scientist can create a theory, or opinion.

In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it can in everyday speech. A theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a related set of natural or social phenomena. It originates from and/or is supported by experimental evidence (see scientific method). In this sense, a theory is a systematic and formalized expression of all previous observations that is predictive, logical and testable. In principle, scientific theories are always tentative, and subject to corrections or inclusion in a yet wider theory. Commonly, a large number of more specific hypotheses may be logically bound together by just one or two theories. As a general rule for use of the term, theories tend to deal with much broader sets of universals than do hypotheses, which ordinarily deal with much more specific sets of phenomena or specific applications of a theory.

 

== How can you tell that a theory is true? ==

 

Scientific theories are regarded as true when enough people are in agreement. For example, you may believe in the theory of gravity since you experience it at all times. Other theories such as global warming or the age of the earth are harder to prove since we cannot truly measure them. Weather records have only been reliably kept for about 20 years. Before that, there were no standard tools to measure temperature. Everyone had a thermometer that measured differently, which is why we have two temperature scales; fahrenheit and celcius.

 

== Why are scientists pushy about their theories (opinions). ==

 

You may have encountered a scientist or two, and chances are they tried to start an argument. Scientists as a group are one of the most self-righteous groups on the planet. They must assert their correctness at all times because their jobs depend on it. Scientists get funding by approaching the government and begging for money. Scientist funding subsidized by our government is approaching the amount spent annually on welfare.