Uncertainty and science

Uncertainty is an inherent aspect of science. Scientific research involves collecting data, making observations, and drawing conclusions based on evidence. However, there is always some degree of uncertainty in the results due to the limitations of the data, the methods used to collect it, and the potential for error or bias.

Scientists recognize and acknowledge uncertainty in their findings and conclusions, and they work to minimize it through rigorous testing and analysis. In fact, uncertainty is often used as a measure of the reliability and validity of scientific research. Uncertainty in science is not a weakness, but rather a strength. It encourages further investigation and refinement of theories and hypotheses, and it allows for new discoveries and advancements in knowledge. It also emphasizes the importance of open and transparent communication of research findings, including the degree of uncertainty and the limitations of the data.

While uncertainty in science can sometimes be unsettling, it is important to remember that it is a natural and necessary aspect of the scientific process. By embracing and addressing uncertainty, scientists can continue to advance our understanding of the world around us. Here's a link to the Twitter thread on this topic: https://twitter.com/desisciencepage/status/1394963019785031681?s=19 


Richard Feynman on uncertainty of knowledge

''I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything and the many things I don't know anything about. But I don't have to know an answer, I don't have I don't feel frightened by not knowing things by being lost in the mysterious universe without having any purpose, which is the way it really is as far as I can tell possibly. It doesn't frighten me'' 

- Richard Feynman


“Science knows it doesn't know everything; otherwise, it'd stop. But just because science doesn't know everything doesn't mean you can fill in the gaps with whatever fairy tale most appeals to you.”


Dara O'Briain

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By Carlo Rovelli 

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