An opinion is a statement describing a personal belief or thought that cannot be tested (or has not been tested) and is unsupported by evidence.
A hypothesis is usually a prediction based on some observation or evidence. Hypotheses must be testable, and once tested, they can be supported by evidence. If a statement is made that cannot be tested and disproved, then it is not a hypothesis. Sometimes it is possible to restate an opinion so that it can become a hypothesis.
A scientific theory is a hypothesis that has been extensively tested, evaluated by the scientific community, and is strongly supported. Theories often describe a large set of observations, and provide a cohesive explanation for those observations.
An individual cannot come up with a theory. Theories require extensive testing and agreement within the scientific community.
Theories are not described as true or right, but as the best supported explanation of the world based on evidence.
Caption this Meme
