What similarities and differences are there between historical and scientific explanations? quantum physics?

One example is the particle-wave duality. Historically, light is considered to be a wave only, and is demonstrated using a prism to separate out the various colors, and also using a double-slit to show the interference pattern of a wave.

But now with the understanding of quantum physics, we also know that light is also a particle that must come in quantized packets of energy (meaning as a wave, light should be able to take on any varying amounts of energy, but as a particle it can only have certain discrete values.) This was proven by Einstein in 1905 with his publication of the Photo-electric Effect, which he won a Nobel Prize.