This image illustrates the 3 types of scientific reasoning (employing an example first used by C.S. Peirce). Physics is a mature science in the sense that the inductive stage is essentially complete. With a few exceptions that are not important here, physicists can explain virtually all physical phenomena on the basis of one or more of 4 forces. Physicists, therefore, employ these forces (along with auxiliary hypotheses) to provide deductive explanations of particular phenomena. However, as the reports in the issue of Science amply demonstrate, biologists almost never reason in that fashion. Instead, they proceed by first demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship, and then making an abductive argument (clearly recognized by the use of “suggests” or related euphemisms).