Think about all the theories there are that have not one fact to sustain them. Not one. Such as the Black Hole. The theory is that a collapsing star draws everything, including light, into it's gravity pull. Pretty neat theory. If it's true how do we know it's there? You can't see without light which is pulled into the Black Hole making it impossible to see it.

"Well, we know it's there because there's a big space with nothing in it. Has to be a Black Hole", Dr. Simon Nosit was quoted as saying.

Maybe it's just a big space with nothing in it.

"No, the Black Hole theory disproves that", he responded.

How about the theory that if you get enough speed going you can arrive back on earth before you left? There's another great theory as long as you don't think about it. You're standing there ready to enter the spaceship and, suddenly, you're arriving back. This theory may well have come from an institution. Not one of higher learning, either.

Dr. Nosit says the problem is that most people can't grasp the concept of theoretical science. You don't start with a fact and find out what the cause of it is. You start out by devising the theory and make up the facts to fit the theory. It's sort of like politics.

The value of knowing all this or any of it?

"It would help us understand how the universe works and that's a worthwhile venture", says the good doctor.

It won't put food on the table though. In fact,( there's an ugly word), it won't actually do anything. It will just be there. Can't disprove it. Not only that, you can argue the exact opposite and be considered just as brilliant. Try that at the local bar. There, you'd be considered a casualty. That's a fact not a theory.

The favorite now is the Big Bang Theory. It goes like this. There was a ball of atomic fire just sitting there. Suddenly, with no warning and no reason, it just blows up. Stars are born; planets get created; life begins.

The biggest believers of that one are also the biggest believers that LSD should be legal. Not that stops them.