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0 pointsdharmab6y ago0 comments

In a general case, yes. This happened recently with gravitational waves. The construction of multiple gravitational wave detectors across the planet allowed us to test a previously untestable hypothesis about the number of dimensions that gravity can act in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HYw6vPR9qU

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SideburnsOfDoom6y ago

> allowed us to test a previously untestable hypothesis

So it is testable now? Is everyone here using the word "untestable" in the same way, i.e. "untestable today with the current state of the art, but it might be tomorrow" vs. "untestable ever, as a principle, even with perfect tech"

namanyayg6y ago

Untestable is a layman's word, everyone here should be saying "falsifiable".

Many Worlds isn't falsifiable and hence untestable; but untestable can also mean not possible to test with current tech. Falsifiable is more accurate here.

klodolph6y ago

"Falsifiable" is a fantastic term but the philosophy of science did not stop with Popper, and it's not the only term we have available to discuss competing theories.

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