What is the definition of a scientific theory?
A theory is a plausible explanation for phenomena that is *supported by evidence*. The more evidence, the more it approaches the status of accepted *fact*. But it is never considered absolutely “proven” because you can never eliminate the possiblity of one of the following: 1) A piece of solid evidence that is inconsistent with the theory; 2) A better (simpler) theory that explains the same evidence. So I would not say that a theory ever becomes “proven fact” …. but rather that the theory is always on approach to being *accepted* as fact, the more evidence is produced. For example, the Copernican Theory holds that the earth orbits the sun. The evidence for that theory is so overwhelming that it is *accepted* as fact. However, a true scientist still calls it a “theory” not a “fact”. The same holds for ALL theories in science.
