Scientific process.

1. Make detailed observations.

2. Form potential explanations - hypotheses.

3. Make falsifiable predictions based on the hypotheses.

4. Conduct experiments to test hypotheses and their predictions.

5. Reject or modify hypotheses that fail the test. Note that positive experimental results usually only support the hypothesis; it is difficult to prove a hypothesis with only a few tests.

6. Draw conclusions from experimental results.

Good hypotheses lead to new observations and predictions; science progresses in a spiral of knowledge.