Chapter 1

Science is an endeavor with three related but distinct aspects. Science is (a) a body of knowledge and understanding; (b) a process or method, and (c) a way of constructing knowledge about the natural world. Scientists must change their ideas about nature when they find new experimental evidence that does not match their current explanations. Although all scientific ideas are tentative and subject to change and improvement, for most major ideas in science there is much experimental and observational confirmation. Those ideas are not likely to change greatly in the future.