- Psychological phenomena like power posing, ego depletion, and growth mindset persist in research despite being debunked, often rebranded under new names.
- The replication crisis has not settled disputes; theories continue to be studied because they are difficult to definitively falsify, leading to endless debates.
- The author proposes a 'Halo theory' of science: scientific theories never truly die, they only become embarrassing, and instead of trying to kill them, we should recognize when they are no longer worth pursuing.
- Historical examples (e.g., continental drift, germ theory) show that initially cringe-worthy ideas can later become accepted, but old theories that remain cringe likely have no merit.
- The author criticizes over-reliance on meta-analyses and statistical corrections, arguing that these methods do not resolve fundamental disputes about a theory's existence.
- A call to move on from endlessly debating whether a theory is alive or dead and instead focus on more productive scientific questions.