Unraveling the Mysteries of the Cosmos: Theories and Our Understanding

Is everything about the cosmos just a theory? The answer is both yes and no. You have to adjust your appreciation of what “right” and “wrong” truly mean. It's important to recognize that there are no absolutes in science - we just get closer to them. Just as we've moved away from believing in gods and monsters, some aspects of science will undergo revolutions, while others will be updated. Currently, however, all accepted scientific theories are still perfectly reliable.

The Complexity of the Cosmos

The universe is often elusive to analysis that becomes proof. Fact can be extremely hard to establish. We live on the second rock from the Sun, standing witness to the deep secrets of the cosmos. Going to another galaxy is purely theoretical; it is not practical in any way. We rely on the framework of reasonable cause to believe which is what theory is for. The complexity as to how concepts correlate between each other supports reasonable speculation.

Building upon the foundation of what is known to contrast with what is suspected helps increase the likelihood of being an actuality. Theory is often all that we have. Scientific analysis requires the burden of proof, but this does not eclipse reasonable speculation. For instance, light's behavior can be observed as a theory, as evidenced by the analysis of a planet's atmosphere through identifying light waves that pass through it, which can reveal information about the planet that is tens or even hundreds of light years away.

Reasonable Speculation and Scientific Revolution

Many might argue that when discussing theories like the nature of black holes and Hawking radiation, it becomes clear that these are not just mere theories. Stephen Hawking, the prominent Theoretical Astrophysicist, dedicated his life to contemplating the cosmos. If he was willing and able to work past theory and demonstrate things like black holes and their radiation, it is safe to say that cosmology is far more than an imaginary theory. It is a testament to the power of theoretical work and its potential to expand our understanding of the universe.

It is crucial to understand that for a theory to stop being a theory, it must be 100% proven exactly right in every case where it could be applied with 100% precision. At this moment, nothing in the universe is proven to 100% certainty. This is why we still refer to light as a theory and why other theories continue to be tested and refined, even if they achieve a high degree of accuracy, such as 99.99%, in predicting results.

Our temporal and limited perspective means that we are constantly working to better understand the difference between that which is real and that which is not compatible with our current observations and theories. As our understanding deepens and technology advances, what we once considered theories may be proven or refined into more accurate models. The journey of understanding the cosmos is ongoing, and theories are indeed the tools we use to guide us on this quest.