The fossil record is very consistent with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
A hypothesis attempts to answer questions by presenting a plausible explanation that has not yet been rigorously tested. A theory, on the other hand, has already been thoroughly tested by various scientists and is generally accepted as an accurate explanation for an observation. This does not mean that the theory is correct; it’s just that current evidence hasn’t yet been able to disprove it, and the evidence, as it is understood, seems to support it.
Outside of systems that are very small, Einstein’s theory of relativity has withstood more than a hundred years of testing.
A theory usually begins as a hypothesis: an educated guess to explain the observable phenomenon. The scientist will try to poke holes in his hypothesis. If it survives the applied methodologies of science, it begins to take on the meaning of a theory for the scientist. The next step is to present the findings to the scientific community for further independent testing. The more a hypothesis is tested and supported, the more it is accepted as a theory.
Scientists working in a laboratory may do research to test a hypothesis they have.
The theory of evolution, for example, is supported by a plethora of scientific evidence in the form of cosmological, geophysical, and archaeological research data, to name just a few relevant fields. Not only have scientists traced the evolution of species through skeletal records, but the Earth itself, our solar system, stars, and galaxies can be “dated” through various scientific methods. This evidence appears to trace the universe back about 13.7 billion years to a “Big Bang” event.
While the evidence supporting the theory of evolution seems endless, it is still just a theory. Theories, no matter how well accepted, are always subject to change as new knowledge emerges. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, for example, explained the world on a large scale, but failed when it came to the world of the infinitely small. This famous theory has been expanded more recently with superstring M-theory, which neatly unites the four known forces in the universe into one elegant mathematical equation. M-Theory exotically predicts that we live in a world of ten dimensions, plus one for time, for a total of 11 dimensions. Although many aspects of M-theory make it difficult to test, the mathematical perfection of this theory has given it traction in scientific circles.
A current hypothesis of great importance is that of dark energy. Scientists can calculate how much mass is present in the universe, but physical matter (matter made up of atoms) accounts for only 4% of the total. Dark matter is thought to make up another twenty percent, leaving seventy-six percent unexplained. Enter the dark energy hypothetically summoned to fill the void. There are some competing candidates for dark energy with ongoing research. However, one of the problems is the difficulty in detecting it. So while its interaction with gravity on a large scale is enough to cause the universe to expand rapidly, detecting it in the lab is a bit like checking for a light breeze using a weather vane full of giant holes. However, as scientists unravel the mystery of the missing mass, one day the answer will go from a mere hypothesis to a generally accepted theory.