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I think Research = Observe-Theorize-Experiment works. Reverse engineering is not research because someone already has the answer.

> Reverse engineering is not research because someone already has the answer.

Someone potentially had the answer at one point. That person/organization may be dead/defunct, or the knowledge may otherwise be lost to time.

Yes, but an answer exists.

...an answer always exists, even in pure scientific research. Nothing is inexplicable.