883
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] rah@feddit.uk 6 points 7 months ago
[-] Donkter@lemmy.world -4 points 7 months ago

Right... In the same way that gravity is still only a theory.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 7 points 7 months ago
[-] Donkter@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

Yes, in that way. Scientists can't say something is true for sure. You can argue (correctly) that gravity has more evidence backing it up. It's the accepted theory that gravity works the way it does because it lines up with every observation made involving it.

In the same exact way, psylocybin being produced by mushrooms to deter predators (certain insects in particular) comports with every observation made about it and explained with the same theories of evolution that lead to similar results with organisms producing chemicals all over the animal kingdom. Like gravity, it's bad science to say it like an absolute fact, but it's likely based on all available data.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 2 points 7 months ago

it's likely

So then not something scientists know is true.

this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2024
883 points (99.1% liked)

Science Memes

11081 readers
3048 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.



Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS