ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Scientific paradigm

A scientific paradigm is kind of like a big puzzle where all the pieces fit together. Scientific paradigms help scientists figure out how different pieces of science fit together and make sense of the world. A scientific paradigm is like a set of rules or beliefs that tell scientists how to study, explain, and predict things that happen in nature and in our lives. For example, one scientific paradigm is the theory of evolution, which tells us how different species have changed over time.