Not only do people not understand wat "opinion means it seems they don't understand the word "theory" either.......so for those who don’t understand how science works here’s an explanation of what “Theory” really means in science
Have you ever heard someone say, “It’s just a theory”? Well, whilst that might work in everyday talk it doesn’t cut mustard in science.
In everyday life, a theory is synonymous with “guess” or “hunch”.
In science, a theory is a powerful explanation backed by tons of evidence.
e.g - scientific theories like evolution, gravity, astronomical or germ theory are
• Tested repeatedly,
• Supported by data,
• Accepted by experts,
• and most importantly Refined over time
So next time you hear “just a theory”, remember it is a sign they don’t understand what they are talking about; in science, “theory” is as strong as it gets.
Of course foil-hatters, flat-earthers, climate deniers and their ilk can't do any of that
When people try to deride a theory, they can’t unless they have proper scientific evidence which they usually don’t understand as they are already using the term “theory” incorrectly – the scientific equivalent of what they are referring to is “Hypothesis” (a guess) but even that can be tested.