Han wrote:


Most often, science is an incremental increase in verified facts and
reasoning.

Science is much more than that Han. Incremental knowledge happens in
everyone - whether it is scientific or not. Verified facts - well that one
would spark a long debate - as we have seen here. So... just what are these
"verifiable facts" you speak of?


Very seldom is there a discovery that turns previous
knowledge, facts and theories completely on its head. Still the
combined facts discovered after a certain period do point to
something totally new.

"Point to..." if that is your viewpoint. Not to completelly disagree with
you here, ,but come on Han the topic at hand is "science" - not incremental
"maybe this could be" stuff...


Mars may or may not have had water and a
potential for life at some point in the past. Verified facts thus
far do not prove one way or another.

In fact, they suggest the other, though that is not conclusive.


Curiosity may or may not find
evidence to substantiate those hypotheses or wild ass guesses. We
won't know until ...

Agreed, but curisosity is just that - curiosity.

--

-Mike-