>>11457800In science, 'theory' is pretty damn solid,
it's like a nuclear-powered supercarrier,
almost impossible to sink. To become a theory, it has to:
1) explain all observed phenomena
2) predict new phenomena
3) the predicted new phenomena has then been verified by testing
A 'theory' does all of (1)+(2)+(3), while 'hypothesis' is just (1)+(2).
The layman's use of the word 'theory', even in the best case, is about the same as the scientist's 'hypothesis'.
In most everyday use it is just (1), and often fails even that.
