Benchmark 1A
The Nature of Science: The Scientific World View
Grades 9-12, page 8

From time to time, major shifts occur in the scientific view of how the world works. More often, however, the changes that take place in the body of scientific knowledge are small modifications of prior knowledge. Change and continuity are persistent features of science.
 

NSES Content Standard G  
History and Nature of Science: Historical perspectives 
Grades 9-12, page 201 
Usually, changes in science occur as small modifications in extant knowledge. The daily work of science and engineering results in incremental advances in our understanding of the world and our ability to meet human needs and aspirations. Much can be learned about the internal workings of science and the nature of science from study of individual scientists, their daily work, and their efforts to advance scientific knowledge in their area of study. 

NSES Content Standard G 
History and Nature of Science: Historical perspectives 
Grades 9-12, page 204 
Occasionally, there are advances in science and technology that have important and long-lasting effects on science and society. Examples of such advances include the following: 
Copernican revolution 
Newtonian mechanics 
Relativity 
Geologic time scale 
Plate tectonics 
Atomic theory 
Nuclear physics 
Biological evolution 
Germ theory 
Industrial revolution 
Molecular biology 
Information and communication 
Quantum theory 
Galactic universe 
Medical and health technology. 

NSES Content Standard G  
History and Nature of Science: Historical perspectives 
Grades 9-12, page 204 
The historical perspective of scientific explanations demonstrates how scientific knowledge changes by evolving over time, almost always building on earlier knowledge.