factual information (such as observations, measurements, or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation; often includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful

a qualitative description of how a specific phenomenon works which is generally accepted by the scientific community

a general scientific concept, supported by evidence, that aids in defining the nature of an object or in defining a process and is adapted as new evidence is discovered

well established and highly reliable explanations which is based on natural and physical phenomena and is capable of being tested by multiple independent researchers; may be subject to change as new areas of science and new technologies are developed; explain why phenomena occur