Final answer:
The correct answer is option 4. Science is tentative due to a lack of evidence, new discoveries, and changing theories but not because of absolute certainty, which is why the correct answer is 'absolute certainty'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Science is a dynamic and ever-evolving field due to several factors, but absolute certainty is not one of them; it actually stands as an exception to why science is tentative. Science's tentativeness can be attributed to lack of evidence, new discoveries, and changing theories.
Lack of evidence means that some hypotheses or theories cannot be fully supported until further data is collected. New discoveries, such as peering through a microscope or learning about dark energy, can reshape current scientific understanding and theories. Changing theories are a sign of scientific progress as new evidence can refute or alter existing models.
The reason science cannot provide answers to all questions is that while science is a powerful tool for understanding the natural world, it is bound by the limitations of observable and testable phenomena. Theories in science, including the germ theory of disease, cell theory, and the theory of evolution, are continually subject to scrutiny and modification in the light of new evidence. However, absolute certainty is generally not possible because scientific knowledge is always open to revision and improvement. This is the essence of the scientific process.