Scientific theories in biology often propose unseen mechanisms before experimental evidence exists, guided by scientists' philosophical frameworks. Two landmark examples—Peter Mitchell's chemiosmotic theory and clonal selection theory of adaptive immunity—explained fundamental life processes by drawing on broader philosophical commitments that allowed researchers to transcend existing theoretical constraints.
A study exposing aging mice to chronic 450nm blue light (intensity matching human environmental exposure) found progressive weight gain despite reduced food intake, altered glucose tolerance, and reduced organ weights with pathological changes including fat deposition, hepatocellular degeneration, and renal tubular damage, suggesting LED lighting may have broader health impacts beyond circadian and retinal effects.