Comic Transcript

Panel 1.
Alkina: Supernova!? are you sure?

Panel 2.
Yes, we have determined that most stars eventuall run out of fuel and explode and that our star may be one of them.

Panel 3.
Alkina: Epo, can you please verify this?
Epo: Negative

Panel 4.
Alkina: Why not?
Epo: After the failure of the altimeter, I cannot be sure about the accuracy of my instruments…

Panel 5. 
Epo: So I have shut them down for diagnostics and they cannot be brought online until it is completed.

Panel 6. 
Alkina: Professor, what data do you have to support your hypothesis?

What does it mean?

Data – is the factual information a scientist collects that is related to the hypothesis he or she is testing. Data can be direct measurements of properties, for example, the height of plants one month after seeds have been planted. Data can also be observations of patterns, for example, the behavior of animals when they encounter a predator. In order to determine whether a particular measurement or observation is a rule rather than an exception, a scientist will often repeat measurements or observations to gather additional data.