Question
1. While studying in the lab, a scientist discovers that a sample of platypus fur glows blueish-green under ultraviolet light. When would the scientist have enough evidence to propose a theory?
A. The scientist would need to study many samples of different species over several generations to get enough evidence to propose a theory.
B. The scientist could propose a theory after briefly examining samples of other species.
C. The scientist could propose a theory based only on this initial study.
D. The scientist would need to publish a paper detailing their results in a trusted journal.
A. The scientist would need to study many samples of different species over several generations to get enough evidence to propose a theory.
B. The scientist could propose a theory after briefly examining samples of other species.
C. The scientist could propose a theory based only on this initial study.
D. The scientist would need to publish a paper detailing their results in a trusted journal.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
A.
A scientific theory requires extensive, repeated evidence and testing (many samples, replication, independent verification across populations/species and time). A single or brief set of observations is not enough; publication helps vet the work but doesn't by itself make a theory.
A scientific theory requires extensive, repeated evidence and testing (many samples, replication, independent verification across populations/species and time). A single or brief set of observations is not enough; publication helps vet the work but doesn't by itself make a theory.