Top 10 Crazy Scientific Theories That Were Proven RIGHT

The quantum world is remarkably different from our own. We apply Newtonian physics to human scales to describe it. On much smaller scales, we need quantum physics instead, with Newtons laws breaking down. One of the most peculiar phenomena on quantum scales is quantum tunneling, in which a particle passes through a barrier in a way that shouldnt be possible. A particle has an extremely small chance of tunneling through a barrier, which usually wouldnt happen. But because there are so many particles, a significant quantity can tunnel through. Its tough to wrap your head around, but its beyond proven at this point. Additionally, its the reason why were struggling to make computers more efficient, a dilemma that quantum computing could solve.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_tunnelling

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0370157398000222

https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article-abstract/55/8/44/412308/The-Early-History-of-Quantum-Tunneling-Molecular?redirectedFrom=fulltext

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing

https://youtu.be/cTodS8hkSDg What is Quantum Tunneling?

https://youtu.be/TxUqxHA2NG8 What is Quantum Tunneling? Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains

https://youtu.be/RF7dDt3tVmI Quantum Tunneling (animated)

The Void is an ancient Greek concept, holding that the universe is made out of atoms moving through a necessary empty space. More than two thousand years later, it was proven correct. Just ignore the blunder years when we thought atoms were like a plum pudding. Lord Rutherford shut that down in 1911, when he discovered the nucleus. Hence, if an atom were the size of a football pitch, the nucleus would be the size of a pea, with even smaller electrons flying around. Well, thats if you misunderstand the concept of electrons, which are better described as probability clouds. So its not truly empty; thats an oversimplification. Its filled with fields and forces, but its less solid than we thought previously.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Void_(philosophy)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_pudding_model

https://academic.oup.com/book/985/chapter-abstract/137840897?redirectedFrom=fulltext

https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-81786,00.html

https://sciencenotes.org/atomic-nucleus-definition-and-facts/

https://youtu.be/bq4su2Lp2iw The Experiment That Proved Atoms Are Mostly Empty Space

https://youtu.be/JUJPyQtoB5E Thomson's Plum Pudding Model of the Atom

https://youtu.be/W2Xb2GFK2yc A Better Way To Picture Atoms

The idea that the Sun is the center of the solar system was first proposed in the 5th century BC, by the Greeks of course. It then fell from favor for centuries, until Renaissance mathematician and science legend Copernicus revitalized the idea. It was considered a heretical idea, since Christians were convinced that the Earth was at the center. This idea was a tough one to believe, since the orbits of stars and planets made close to no sense. Placing the Sun at the center solved these issues, and is now considered common sense. But once upon a time, you could be executed for believing in heliocentrism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliocentrism

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/geocentrism-heliocentrism

https://www.space.com/heliocentrism

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/the-truth-about-galileo-and-his-conflict-with-the-catholic-church

https://youtu.be/ZeS8h1t-uMA Heliocentrism and Geocentrism

https://youtu.be/5CEUSqP58N8 Copernicus, Galileo, and the Catholic Church

https://youtu.be/khIzr6610cQ How We Figured out That Earth Goes Around the Sun

Its hypothesized that the universe will end with all particles drifting an infinite distance away from each other. This is called the heat death of the universe, wherein all cosmic structures no longer exist. Three major hypotheses for the universes end were initially proposed, with the other two being the Big Crunch and the Big Rip. Observations of the universes expansion suggested these two scenarios were implausible, an idea so wild even Einstein resisted it initially. Now, its been proven by all our observations. We still dont know why the universe is expanding, which is why we invented dark energy to drive expansion. The leading model for its origin is the Big Bang Theory, but with equally viable alternatives, dont consider it an absolute truth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansion_of_the_universe

https://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/astro/universe/universe.asp

https://www.space.com/52-the-expanding-universe-from-the-big-bang-to-today.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_death_of_the_universe

https://www.space.com/24781-big-bang-theory-alternatives-infographic.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy

https://youtu.be/BBKV2N550XE The Expanding Universe | National Geographic

https://youtu.be/9DrBQg_n2Uo What Actually Expands In An Expanding Universe?

https://youtu.be/6PiyUjVxukI What is the universe expanding into? - Sajan Saini

The idea that time passes differently depending on your velocity is already crazy, but it gets even wilder when gravity is thrown in. Originally proposed in Einsteins theory of relativity, its since been suggested by all tests weve tried. One fascinating effect is that the Earths core is roughly 2.5 years younger than its surface. It sounds like sci-fi, but its totally real, measurable, and a major pain when deploying GPS satellites. It means time is passing slightly slower for your feet than your head, or the reverse if youre in Australia. Black holes take it to the extreme, slowing time down so much an outside observer will see someone freeze as they fall in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_time_dilation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation

https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Relativity/Supplemental_Modules_(Relativity)/Miscellaneous_Relativity_Topics/Gravitational_Time_Dilation%2C_a_Derivation

https://www.gpsworld.com/inside-the-box-gps-and-relativity/

https://youtu.be/yuD34tEpRFw Time Dilation - Einstein's Theory Of Relativity Explained!

https://youtu.be/1BCkSYQ0NRQ Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Time Dilation

https://youtu.be/g9p9AfjVMKY Time Dilation Explained in 6 Minutes

PBS

S42E21 Inside Einsteins Mind

Full documentary: https://youtu.be/7CZyDPELXs4

Also known as spooky action at a distance, this theory is so ridiculous Einstein hated it. He proposed the idea that nothing can travel faster than light, imposing it upon reality like a grouchy traffic warden. Well, too bad for him. Its been proven more than once. The theory says particles can become entangled with one another, turning them into a shared system, even when separated by huge distances. It goes against all the basics of classical mechanics, but its real. So, whats the underlying cause? Its anyones guess. It could be magic for all we know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement

https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/quantum-science-explained/entanglement

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/quantum-entanglement-isnt-all-that-spooky-after-all1/

https://youtu.be/fkAAbXPEAtU Quantum Entanglement: Explained in REALLY SIMPLE Words

https://youtu.be/ZuvK-od647c Quantum Entanglement & Spooky Action at a Distance

https://youtu.be/unb_yoj1Usk Quantum Entanglement Explained - How does it really work?

https://youtu.be/C-UxlEQj13w Neil deGrasse Tyson Explores Quantum Entanglement with Janna Levin

Most people know Einsteins famous equation E = mc², but fewer understand its implications. It says mass can be converted into energy, and vice versa. The theory is that mass is stored energy, the underlying principle behind nuclear power. In nuclear fission and fusion, tiny differences in mass result in a huge release of energy. Before Einstein, the consensus was that mass and energy were entirely separate. We had concepts like kinetic energy, thermal energy, et cetera, with mass being simply a fixed property. Then, Einstein showed theyre two sides of the same coin. Its just one of many ways Einstein revolutionised modern science.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass%E2%80%93energy_equivalence

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/equivME/

https://www.emuseum.org/articles/the-mass-energy-equivalence

https://youtu.be/hW7DW9NIO9M Einsteins Proof of E=mc^2

https://youtu.be/z85XngvrrzE The Real meaning of E=mc2 - A simple explanation of mass energy equivalence

PBS

S42E21 Inside Einsteins Mind

Full documentary: https://youtu.be/7CZyDPELXs4

This was once considered a fringe science, so wild it was often mocked by peers. Now, its a basic concept in geology, alongside the topic of tectonic plates. The theory suggests that the Earths surface is made out of tectonic plates, which slowly shift, causing things like mountains and earthquakes. Alfred Wegener was the pioneer of this concept, proposed in a paper in 1912. It took decades for it to be accepted, with most researchers considering it to be ludicrous. Wagener died in 1930, unfortunately not living long enough to see his theory become embraced in the 1950s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_drift

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/continental-drift/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z79mtv4/revision/2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics

https://youtu.be/SbIpWHQI-tE The continents are moving. When will they collide? - Jean-Baptiste P. Koehl

Continental Drift 101: https://youtu.be/Wq9kLzm36h0

Discovery Channel

S01E02: Earth Sciences

Continental drift: https://youtu.be/rDKiNwTwaNw

Youll have a hard time finding people who arent disgusted by things like spitting on the floor. A couple of centuries ago, few would have batted an eye. Thats because the idea of germs spreading diseases was entirely alien. Before, people thought diseases came from bad air, or even things like sin and curses. Therefore doctors would go from autopsy to childbirth, without washing their hands. When someone came along and said it was tiny invisible things infecting us, it sounded totally insane. Pioneers like Ignaz Semmelweis proved handwashing drastically reduces deaths during childbirth, but his contemporaries ridiculed him. He eventually died in an asylum, long before his ideas became widely understood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germ_theory_of_disease

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11047106/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4980761/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_Semmelweis

https://youtu.be/ZmaoHB5fKB4 Pasteur and Koch | Secondary History - Medicine Through Time

https://youtu.be/N9LC-3ZKiok How a few scientists transformed the way we think about disease - Tien Nguyen

https://youtu.be/97sEcWEb3Iw Germ Theory of Diseases and Kochs Postulates

Charles Darwin is a scientist so respected that his face is on British bank notes. Before he came along, people believed species were created as they are. As we now know, all life is connected through common descent, and species change through natural selection. While this idea was revolutionary, it was also wildly offensive, making people initially furious. There are mountains of evidence supporting it, but Darwin had none of that in his lifetime. Even today, the theory is still banned or challenged by some. Thats because it threatens deeply held beliefs about human uniqueness, but its been rock-solid for decades now. So much of modern science rests on evolutionary theory, making it one of the most significant ideas in history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwinism

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2009/02/04/darwin-and-his-theory-of-evolution/

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/natural-selection/natural-selection-ap/a/darwin-evolution-natural-selection

https://youtu.be/XOiUZ3ycZwU The Making of a Theory: Darwin, Wallace, and Natural Selection HHMI BioInteractive Video

Discovery Channel

S02E08 Mankind Rising

Full documentary: https://youtu.be/StqZI9pMq0U

Keller Entrainment Group

Full documentary: https://youtu.be/AOCpy6EeE4c

Are there any currently unconfirmed theories youre hoping will someday be proven? Leave them in the comments section!

https://youtu.be/HneiEA1B8ks Dark matter: The matter we can't see - James Gillies