What constitutes a theory in the natural sciences?

In the natural sciences, a theory serves as a comprehensive explanation that ties together a vast array of observations and experimental results. Specifically, it provides a framework that clarifies how certain laws, which are consistent and observable patterns in nature, operate.

For instance, the theory of evolution explains the processes and mechanisms (like natural selection) that lead to the observable law of biodiversity. Such theories are supported by extensive evidence from multiple scientific disciplines and are subject to revision as new information emerges.

Compared to a law, which describes a repeated observable phenomenon often expressed mathematically, a theory deals with the underlying principles and mechanisms that can lead to various outcomes and phenomena. A theory is continually tested and refined, rather than being merely an untested idea or a specific data set. Thus, the nature of a theory is not static, and it generally evolves through scientific inquiry and validation, which is why it's regarded as a foundational component of scientific understanding.