Are theories elevated to laws

Answer 1

All theories don't become laws because of several reasons, most notably the notion that anybody can come up with a theory before having sufficient proof to back it up.

Remember that one of the first few steps of the scientific method is to formulate a hypothesis. Regardless of the hypothesis' correctness, it is still a theory which may or may not become true. Rigorous testing and examination must prove it to be true. Many theories in science especially conflict with one another, but the laws are universal to my understanding.

For example, the law of universal gravitation is accepted everywhere because it has been tested quiet a bit (without which we would not have entered space). However, many theories such as those that examine how the earth was created are still subject to intense speculation--was it the Big Bang, God, evil robotic aliens?

So there you have it.