Scientists conduct investigations for a variety of reasons. which of the following reasons best explains why a scientist would want to study rock formations and living organisms in previously unexplored water habitats?

They utilize and apply the scientific method in gathering, interpreting and analyzing empirical evidence. 

Empirical evidence, data or knowledge is an obtained set of facts or figures or existing and presenting data that was yielded during the process of experimentation or scientific discovery. These empirical data or evidence is further studied and investigated by the scientist in a formal scientific approach which follows the steps of observation, making a hypothesis, gathering data, interpreting data and evaluating the data. These steps of the scientific approach are vital in the course to explain and discuss the result and evidence obtained during the process.