Scientific knowledge is both durable and open to change. In your own words, explain why scientific knowledge may be open to change. Include two examples where this might occur.

Scientific knowledge is open to change because it's fundamentally based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning, which together form the scientific method. New observations and experiments can lead to new insights or contradict existing theories or beliefs, driving change. There are two key reasons for this openness to change:

1. New evidence or data: As new technology and methods allow scientists to gather more precise data or observe phenomena that were previously inaccessible, the new data might not fit into the existing frameworks or theories, necessitating revisions or the development of new theories.

2. Improved understanding and analysis: Over time, scientists may develop better theoretical models or new ways of analyzing data. As understanding deepens, interpretations of existing data could change, which could challenge existing knowledge.

Examples where scientific knowledge may be open to change include:

1. The classic example is the switch from the geocentric model of the universe, which placed Earth at the center, to the heliocentric model, which recognizes the sun as the center of our solar system. The geocentric model was the prevailing theory for centuries, but it was upended by the work of astronomers such as Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler, who presented observational evidence that supported the heliocentric model.

2. Another example is the shift from Newtonian physics to the theory of relativity. For over two hundred years, Newton's laws of motion and gravity were sufficient to describe the motion of objects. However, as scientists began to observe phenomena at very high speeds and on astronomical scales,