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can you give an example of any problem in science (not engineering) that is definitely solved?


All that is known in the entire field of mathematics. But yeah, mostly just mathematics. I think sorting algorithms is a solved problem, but you can say that's just math as well.


Even math systems are engineered somewhat: we can always invent a new and better math. It has happened a few times in history.


Well, Newton's laws of motion suffice for non-relativistic motion. Maxwell's equations, I think, suffice for typical electronic/magnetic fields. Judging from all the labs I did or TA'd back then, we have a pretty good handle on friction and inclined planes. While there's a lot of "science at the edges" that's ongoing, much of the everyday, classical things have a suitable solution.

As others have written, modern Engineering could not be done without the existence of such working solutions.




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