superseded scientific theory
scientific theory rejected by modern mainstream scientific consensus
tooth worm
erroneous theory that small worms resident within the tooth caused dental caries, periodontitis and toothaches
insanity
abnormal mental or behavioral patterns
degeneration theory
19th-century theory that civilization was declining due to biological change
caloric theory
obsolete scientific theory of heat flow
pangenesis
Darwin's hypothetical mechanism for heredity
orthogenesis
obsolete biological hypothesis that organisms have an innate tendency to evolve towards some goal
Le Sage's theory of gravitation
obsolete kinetic theory of gravity that explained Newton’s gravitational force in terms of streams of unseen particles impacting material objects from all directions
radical theory
superseded theory that organic molecules consisted of indivisible radicals
flood geology
attempt to interpret and reconcile geological features of the Earth in accordance with a literal belief in the global flood described in Genesis
electrochemical dualism
obsolete scientific theory that all molecules are salts composed of basic and acidic oxides
miasma theory
obsolete medical theory about the transmission of disease through bad air
Dirac sea
ground state of a fermionic field; thought of as a "sea" of negative-energy states that have been all filled in, thus rendering the vaccum stable
Aristotelian physics
Natural sciences as described by Aristotle
expanding Earth
hypothesis
emission theory
proposal that visual perception is accomplished by eye beams emitted by the eyes
principle
historical concept of the constituents of a substance
spontaneous generation
disproven theory of life arising from nonliving matter
flat Earth
archaic conception of the Earth's shape
devolution
process of evolving from a complex organism to a simpler organism
dromomania
a desire for frequent traveling or wanderlust
Nebraska Man
false ancient hominid species
memory transfer
hypothesis that some organisms store memory in RNA outside the nervous system
Hollow Earth
historical concept proposing that the planet Earth is entirely hollow or contains a substantial interior space
aether theories
set of theories
discredited hypotheses for the Cambrian explosion
superseded scientific theories
double bond rule
reduced tendency of main-group elements after period 2 to form stable multiple bonds
Partial Ether Entrainment
superseded scientific theory
vitalism
discredited scientific hypothesis
menstrual synchrony
purported menstrual cycle synchronization in women who live together
Aristotle's biology
theory of biology, grounded in systematic observation and collection of data, mainly zoological, embodied in Aristotle's books on the science
acid ash hypothesis
obsolete medical theory that acidic diet causes osteoporosis
continental drift
movement of Earth's continents relative to each other
biotypology
the study of biotypes
Mechanical explanations of gravitation
attempts to explain the action of gravity by aid of basic mechanical processe
phlogiston theory
superseded scientific theory about combustion
Lorentz ether theory
defunct theory of electromagnetism
rain follows the plow
incorrect climatology hypothesis
aether drag hypothesis
obsolete scientific theory that that the luminiferous aether is dragged by moving matter
geocentric model
theory that Earth is the centre of the Universe
Lamarckism
hypothesis that an organism can pass on characteristics that it has acquired through use or disuse during its lifetime to its offspring
N ray
hypothesized form of radiation, described by Prosper-René Blondlot in 1903 but subsequently found to be illusory
refrigerator mother theory
discredited historical theory that autistic spectrum disorders are caused by a lack of parental emotional warmth
vertebral theory of the skull
hypothesis that the skull is formed by the fusion of vertebrae
mass action principle
in neuroscience, the idea that that the proportion of the brain that is injured is directly proportional to the decreased ability of memory functions
land bridge hypothesis
obsolete scientific hypothesis that land bridges existed to allow fauna to cross over, prior to the acceptance of continental drift