Understanding Unknowns in Science

Study Notes

In scientific research, "unknown" refers to variables or phenomena that are not fully understood or cannot be measured directly.

Known unknowns: Factors that are recognized as unknown, but can be estimated or modeled.
Unknown unknowns: Factors that are not recognized or understood, and may only be discovered through further research.

Robustness: Designing experiments and models to be resilient to unknowns and uncertainties.
Sensitivity analysis: Analyzing how models and results change in response to different assumptions and inputs.
Uncertainty quantification: Estimating the range of possible outcomes due to unknowns.

Dark matter: A type of unknown matter in the universe that has not been directly observed.
Dark energy: A type of unknown energy thought to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Driving research: Unknowns often motivate scientific inquiry and discovery.
Humility: Recognizing unknowns promotes a humble approach to scientific knowledge and understanding.

In scientific research, unknowns refer to variables or phenomena that are not fully understood or cannot be measured directly.

Known unknowns: recognized unknown factors that can be estimated or modeled, such as limitations in data collection or incomplete theories.
Unknown unknowns: unforeseen factors that are not recognized or understood, and may only be discovered through further research, such as unexpected interactions between variables.

Robustness: designing experiments and models to be resilient to unknowns and uncertainties, ensuring that results are reliable and consistent.
Sensitivity analysis: analyzing how models and results change in response to different assumptions and inputs, to understand the impact of unknowns on findings.
Uncertainty quantification: estimating the range of possible outcomes due to unknowns, providing a clear understanding of the limitations of the research.

Dark matter: a type of unknown matter in the universe that has not been directly observed, but its presence is inferred by its gravitational effects on visible matter.
Dark energy: a type of unknown energy thought to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe, but its nature and properties are still unknown.

Driving research: unknowns often motivate scientific inquiry and discovery, as researchers strive to understand and explain uncharted phenomena.
Humility: recognizing unknowns promotes a humble approach to scientific knowledge and understanding, acknowledging that there is still much to be discovered and learned.