Science Archives

Thomas Kuhn: Scientific Revolution Theory

How does Kuhn explain a scientific revolution? What spurs a revolution into motion and how do we know that a scientific discipline has been revolutionized? According to Thomas Kuhn, a scientific revolution happens when new discoveries do not fit into the existing scientific frameworks. When that happens, scientists have to break with traditional knowledge and start looking for a new model that fits this new information. Read more about Thomas Kuhn’s scientific revolution theory.

What Caused the Ammonites’ Extinction?

What are ammonites? When did they become extinct? What are the suggested causes behind ammonites’ extinction? Ammonites are a group of coil-shelled mollusk animals that went extinct 66 million years ago. Scientists don’t know the exact cause of ammonites’ extinction, but it is theorized that they died as a result of ocean changes due to the asteroid strike. Keep reading to learn about ammonites’ extinction causes.

A Paradigm Shift in Science Changes Everything

The 2 Primary Biological Causes of Depression

What is a paradigm shift in science? How does a paradigm shift change scientists’ observations and interpretations of the objects of their study? A paradigm shift in science occurs when there is a fundamental change in the conceptual and experimental framework that upholds the whole scientific discipline. A paradigm shift doesn’t just change how scientists interpret their observations, but also what they see (i.e. the observations themselves). Keep reading to learn about paradigm shift in science and what happens in its aftermath.

What Happened to the Panamanian Golden Frog?

What happened to the Panamanian golden frog? What is the reason for its disappearance? Panamanian golden frog was once common in the village of El Valle de Anton in central Panama, where it was considered a symbol of luck. The frogs could easily be seen and heard in the hills around town. Then they started disappearing. Read about the Panamanian golden frog and what caused its disappearance.

Scientific Progress: Revolutionary Changes in Science

What is scientific progress? Why is there a lack of consensus on what constitutes progress in science? The definition of scientific progress is not a simple one. According to Thomas Kuhn, what is deemed progress in normal science is different from progress in revolutionary science. To fully resolve this contradiction, we must give up the idea that science is linear and has a clear endpoint. Keep reading to learn more about scientific progress: the nature of it, why it’s expected, and how it happens.

Georges Cuvier: Theory of Catastrophism

Who was Georges Cuvier? What contribution did he make to evolution? How did George Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism redefine the paradigm of extinction? Georges Cuvier was a French naturalist and zoologist from the 18th century. He is also known as the “founding father of paleontology.” Georges Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism convinced the skeptical scientific community of the reality of mass species extinctions. Read about Georges Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism.

Thomas Kuhn Quotes: Ideas on Scientific Revolutions

What are some noteworthy Thomas Kuhn quotes? Which quotes and passages highlight his most influential ideas about the history and philosophy of science? Thomas Kuhn was an American physicist, historian, and philosopher of science who is best known for his groundbreaking 1962 classic The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The following Thomas Kuhn quotes encapsulate his revolutionary ideas about the history and philosophy of science. Here are four Thomas Kuhn quotes and what they mean.

Karl Popper’s Falsification Theory: Bye, Pseudoscience

What is Karl Popper’s falsification theory? What contribution did Popper make to the philosophy of science? Karl Popper was a philosopher who is mostly known for his falsification principle. According to Karl Popper’s falsification theory, tests for verification of scientific theories should be designed with the purpose of disproving or falsifying them, not confirming them. Learn about Karl Popper’s falsification theory.

Scientific Bias: An Inevitable Part of Science

Is scientific bias inevitable? How do scientific biases affect scientists’ data collection and interpretation? Science is not possible without some degree of scientific bias. Scientists are humans and will inevitably bring their own biases and experiences to whatever they study, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Keep reading to learn about scientific bias and why it is an indispensable aspect of doing science.

Paradigm Shift Examples in Science Since Galileo

What are some paradigm shift examples in science? How did these shifts change the way we see the word? There have been many paradigm shift examples in science that completely changed the way people understood and approached the world. These revolutions happened because science is not a straightforward path toward what’s “true.” It’s more like a path away from what’s wrong. Here is a brief overview of the most notable paradigm shift examples in science.