[jeffreyH (OP)]

A lot of complex and outlandish theoretical models have accumulated over the decades. Are we just missing the obvious?
What do you think?

[chiralSPO]

A lot of complex and outlandish theoretical models have accumulated over the decades. Are we just missing the obvious?
What do you think?

I am certain that our level of understanding has a lot of room for growth. There are a lot of known unknowns, but almost surely more unknown unknowns. I would guess it is quite likely that we are entirely unaware of something very simple that we have not taken account of, that once we are aware of it and have an understanding of it, then it will be quite obvious. I say this only as a matter of the history of discovery:
1) the concept of zero was not obvious until it was obvious
2) the concept of a non-geocentric universe was not obvious until it was obvious
3) the concept of energy
4) the concept of entropy
5) the concept relativity (the consequences of relativity are less obvious, and certainly not intuitive, but the concept itself is so obvious now)

so what is the next big "well, duh!" moment for science? I don't know, but by definition, it will be revolutionary.

[geordief]

so what is the next big "well, duh!" moment for science? I don't know, but by definition, it will be revolutionary.

Not the next  but perhaps the most revolutionary -our understanding (if we ever get here ) of our own nature and its place in the overall scheme of things.

Maybe not "science" as such  but the twain will meet (or get closer)  you might think -unless there is a  fundamental impediment  ,some kind of a "the more we learn the even  more questions arise" roadblock.

Donald Trump springs to mind. Is this what millions of years of evolution has led to?