Mars trips may involve less radiation exposure than previously thought:
There's no question that the first human mission to Mars will be extremely dangerous. Some studies have suggested that the radiation levels would exceed the maximum career dose for a given astronaut, greatly increasing the risk of cancer and other illnesses. It might not be quite so bad as it sounds, though. Newly presented ESA ExoMars orbiter data indicates that astronauts would receive "at least" 60 percent of their maximum recommended career radiation exposure on a round trip to Mars that takes six months both ways. That's still several times what ISS crew members receive, but it's relatively gentle compared to what some had feared.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 20 2018, @11:08PM (2 children)
I don't know any scientists who actually use the word 'theory" in the way you describe. Theory/model/hypothesis are all interchangeable terms.
Also, the way you describe the scientific method sounds idealistic. It seems more like what Lakatos described: http://www.lse.ac.uk/philosophy/science-and-pseudoscience-overview-and-transcript/ [lse.ac.uk]
Science advances by coming up with theories that make otherwise surprising predictions that turn out correct. Degenerating theories are those that keep needing ad hoc additions to deal with the new data that comes in (the theory lags the data). Its never possible to prove or disprove anything, so there is no concern with facts/truth/etc.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Friday September 21 2018, @12:23AM (1 child)
Theory of Relativity
Quantum Mechanical Theory
the two most thoroughly tested and broadly accepeted models ever conceived
They also use theory a lot in less well established contexts, but probably shouldn't when laymen can hear them. Or should come up with a better term for "theories most everyone believes".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 21 2018, @12:54AM
I don't know about QM, but general relativity predicts the wrong thing all the time. They came up with the ad hoc theory of "dark matter" and "dark energy" to save it, and now 90% (or whatever) of the universe is made of stuff that can only be "detected" as deviations from the predictions of GR. So, yea its a perfect example of a degenerating theory.