alt Hacker NewsWell, it can be.
It can also mean exactly what it said: there might indeed be truth to the thesis, but it has not yet been substantiated or fully developed.
Having to use circumlocution like that—and thus making the meaning unclear—seems like an aspect of a Guess, or high-context, culture, doesn't it? ^_^
> Having to use circumlocution like that—and thus making the meaning unclear—seems like an aspect of a Guess, or high-context, culture, doesn't it? ^_^
Ah ah :-)
Well, not really. Scientifically stating something doesn't exist is very bold, usually you can't formally do this. Your best way is to say "so far, we have no evidence of this existing".
Several studies or a meta analysis stating "we have no proof of this existing" is a strong hint towards this indeed not existing, usually that can't be for sure.
To prove something wrong usually you need a counter example, but in this stuff it's hard even imagining what's a counter example.