Before the scientific process was developed, people were slow to change common misconceptions about the world and universe. Some examples include the notion that the Earth is flat or that the Sun revolves around the Earth. These beliefs were held for centuries and people were sometimes even given the death sentence if they went against some of the beliefs of the time.
Scientists persevered to eventually gather an overwhelming amount of evidence that supported the theory that the Earth is actually round and that the Earth does revolve around the Sun.
Even in modern times, people make outrageous scientific claims. For example, in the late 1980s a group of scientists in the United States claimed they had accomplished fusion (the process by which the Sun produces energy) at low temperatures. They called this Cold Fusion and the public became very excited by the prospect of ending our reliance on polluting fossil fuels. For five years other scientists tried to duplicate the process but none were able to achieve cold fusion. The results of the initial experiment were refuted (disproved) and determined to be non-reproducible. Money or fame are often the primary motives for such false claims. Perhaps there are notions that we support today that may be proven false by future scientists—maybe you!
