I must disagree with the opinion expressed in Gene Dombrowski’s Aug. 15 letter, “Unconscious prejudice guides theory,” regarding Dr. Stephen Hawking’s theory (hypothesis) of how the universe began. It has been human nature to attribute unknown events to some supernatural being. Over time, accumulated knowledge and technology have brought to light the workings of nature.
Science starts with a hypothesis, then goes through observation and testing, to develop a theory. The theory remains in force until new information may determine that it is false.
Many theories have be in existence for more than a hundred years, and no one has been able to prove that they are false. These theories include gravity and evolution.
Dombrowski states that science has not explained how lift came into being. I would like to refer him, and others who are interested, to recently published research in Nature Chemistry 2011, out of the University of California, Merced. This is the beginning of how life started and more research needs to be done, but it clearly points to natural processes, not a supernatural being.
