What is Science: Definition and 990 Discussions

Science (from the Latin word scientia, meaning "knowledge") is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.The earliest roots of science can be traced to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in around 3000 to 1200 BCE. Their contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and medicine entered and shaped Greek natural philosophy of classical antiquity, whereby formal attempts were made to provide explanations of events in the physical world based on natural causes. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, knowledge of Greek conceptions of the world deteriorated in Western Europe during the early centuries (400 to 1000 CE) of the Middle Ages, but was preserved in the Muslim world during the Islamic Golden Age. The recovery and assimilation of Greek works and Islamic inquiries into Western Europe from the 10th to 13th century revived "natural philosophy", which was later transformed by the Scientific Revolution that began in the 16th century as new ideas and discoveries departed from previous Greek conceptions and traditions. The scientific method soon played a greater role in knowledge creation and it was not until the 19th century that many of the institutional and professional features of science began to take shape; along with the changing of "natural philosophy" to "natural science."Modern science is typically divided into three major branches that consist of the natural sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, and physics), which study nature in the broadest sense; the social sciences (e.g., economics, psychology, and sociology), which study individuals and societies; and the formal sciences (e.g., logic, mathematics, and theoretical computer science), which deal with symbols governed by rules. There is disagreement, however, on whether the formal sciences actually constitute a science as they do not rely on empirical evidence. Disciplines that use existing scientific knowledge for practical purposes, such as engineering and medicine, are described as applied sciences.New knowledge in science is advanced by research from scientists who are motivated by curiosity about the world and a desire to solve problems. Contemporary scientific research is highly collaborative and is usually done by teams in academic and research institutions, government agencies, and companies. The practical impact of their work has led to the emergence of science policies that seek to influence the scientific enterprise by prioritizing the development of commercial products, armaments, health care, public infrastructure, and environmental protection.

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  1. Sagittarius A-Star

    Stephen Wolfram: Can AI Solve Science?

    Stephen Wolfram wrote an article about the role of AI in science. https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2024/03/can-ai-solve-science/ His conclusion:
  2. sbrothy

    Serious science is alive and well....

    Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Optimizing Beer Glass Shapes to Minimize Heat Transfer During Consumption.
  3. S

    Hello from an interested amateur.

    Hi, my username is one I use for most forums, but my actual name is Steve. The references to homework on this forum suggest a rather youthful membership which makes me a positively ancient being of 58, lol. But I have long had a fascination with science in general and cosmology in particular...
  4. Phil App

    Enthusiast in the field of technology and science

    I am a 20-year-old man who has graduated in the field of wood technology and its industrial applications. However, I am very interested in many aspects of science and technology, even though I do not have the necessary education and experience. I enjoy contemplating things theoretically, even at...
  5. M

    What does magnetically sealed possibly mean?

    I remember one of my favorite parts of the original Star Wars movie was when Luke, Leia, Chewie and Han jump into the trash compactor. Han tries to blast his way out and the blaster bolt ricochets off the walls of the compactor until it eventually hits a piece of garbage. Luke screams “WILL YOU...
  6. M

    B How would physics change if Planet 9 were a primordial black hole?

    I watch John Michael Godier on YouTube. He is a futurist and makes fantastic videos where he speculates on many things. Todays video was about primordial black holes and he speculated about Planet 9 not being visible because it may actually be a black hole born in the dawn of the universe. He...
  7. Lao Tzu

    Questing for the unification of mathematics and my intuition

    Howdy from West Virginia!! If you would have told me 30 years ago that I'd be researching physics and math for fun, I would have said, "Are you high.... and by the way, what is physics?!?" I'm obsessed with all things science, and tickled by all things quantum. I became interested in science and...
  8. J

    Building Better: Exploring Science and Engineering in Construction

    Hello everyone, I just joined the forum, after a bit of lurking on some various threads. It seems like a great forum. While I'm not a engineer, I am involved in various areas of construction, and I always try to back up my designs and work with as much science and engineering as I can. I hope...
  9. Elimelech70

    A cat whose insatiable curiosity keeps me looking and questioning

    I think the Enlightenment actually brought more darkness to science than light, using a few sparks to give the appearance of substance and intelligence. These sparks have led to a number of theories that are not beeb proven yet becoming foundational to other knowledges. I know we need models...
  10. phinds

    To supercharge science, first experiment with how it is funded

    Interesting article from the Economist. To me it seems a bit long on vague ideas and short on specifics, but it would be very good to get the right people at least talking about the problems that they point out. The article: They go on to point out that the current system is, to use their...
  11. K

    Where Can I Find Truth and Enlightenment in the Forum?

    Seeking truth. Seeking enlightenment. No native speaker.
  12. S

    I Quantum state of a macroscopic object?

    (Mods, I posted a lot on the MWI yesterday, but this seemed different enough to warrant its own thread. If you disagree, I apologize.) The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy says the following in its article on the Many Worlds Interpretation: Is this backed by science? It reminds me of...
  13. Jpolisa

    B Can someone please explain Relativity Theory to me in as simple terms as possible?

    Yes... Can someone please explain the relativity theory to me in as much simple terms as possible. It's really way in over my head. Thanks.
  14. L

    Can the Speed of Light Limit Our Cosmos Observation?

    How the physics and science limit our cosmos observation and link it to speed of light? I could not find any equation, study or science that can support and limit our observation parameters.
  15. S

    How can we inspire curiosity and understanding in our students?

    Always looking for answers. Wanting to help my students discover the curiosity about the world. Would love to enable a desire for understanding all around us.
  16. J

    Looking for a Recommendations for a General Science Periodical to Subscribe to

    I would like to subscribe to a general science periodical (emphasis on physics would not go amiss) other than Scientific American that would explain new scientific discoveries and ideas in popular terms. A hard copy magazine best but digital okay too. Please, no defense of Scientific American...
  17. jcalises

    What sparked my passion for physics and mathematics?

    I don't have much to say, at the time I had to drop out of university but I've always been passionate about science and I can't stop reading and thinking about it, especially physics and mathematics.Welcome everybody.
  18. arkiv

    Can I do MSBioPhys after BEEE?

    Can I do a Master in Biophysics after a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering?
  19. S

    Other Wind Tunnel Research at a Community College

    I'm a student at a community college that was gifted a wind tunnel by a local uni. I'm leading a group of 5+ engineering / science students to refurbish and tune it. The testing chamber is around 12 x 5 x 5 inches, and we have free reign to do anything we'd like. We've had some ideas like...
  20. Dennis Plews

    I Higgs Field & GR: Are They Related or Not?

    Since these two pillars of science have mass as a common core, are they related, essentially the same or not?
  21. paulb203

    What are the Basics of Maths and Physics for a Curious Scientist?

    Hello. Thanks for having me. I'm Paul, from the UK. I'm interested in physics, and maths, and science generally, but mainly physics, and within that mainly cosmology. I'm maybe around GCSE level regards maths and physics, roughly high school diploma level in the US, according to Google, although...
  22. P

    Sources to study computational materials science

    Can you recommend me a source to self study computational materials science? I am currently doing an internship and want to study in my spare time for materials science. I will take a course named computational methods in materials science but I want to learn it earlier than that but I can't...
  23. jedishrfu

    The Youtube Science Spam Problem

    Kyle Hill has done a rough analysis of Youtube Science channel content and says that there is a spam problem at Youtube where folks are creating content at an astonishing rate of poor quality science videos for monetary gain.
  24. LedTasso

    Can STEM education be made fun and engaging for K-12 students?

    Hello, I am a manager at a non-profit science centre. I manage a team of educators that develop and deliver STEM programming to students all across my province, with a focus on science/coding/technology. I am passionate about teaching, and I aim to find ways to integrate all of the scientific...
  25. C

    What is the importance of being a well-rounded scientist?

    Greetings, I am here to "brush up" on my general physics knowledge and more as a life long learner. My background is in biochemistry, but I believe in being well rounded as a scientist, a student and a educator.
  26. Rick16

    Why are Science Undergrad Programs Heavy on General Ed?

    I have always wondered about this: Why is it that at US-universities the ratio of subject matter courses to general education courses is so much lower in science programs than in engineering programs? As if there were not enough material in the sciences.
  27. Demystifier

    I Two approaches to science

    As you may have noticed, I am obsessed with understanding the difference between two views of quantum mechanics, one of which can be called the "standard" view, and the other the "realist" view. The difference, of course, is very complicated, but I believe that the essence and origin of the...
  28. B

    Is Time Travel Possible with Science?

    I subscribe to this forum because I like science. I think science is the future and I don't know why but I think that time travel is possible with science. I looking article about this subject and this is amazing. I want to learning more about time travel and other science subjects. Thanks for...
  29. JasmineMasown

    Join the Science Community: A New Member's Introduction

    Hey! This is Jasmine Masown here. A curious learner, book lover and a science buff. I've been passionate about science and how things in our universe work ever since I was a Lil kid. Hopefully carrying that love for science forward in the form of formal education (physics undergrad). Thank you...
  30. Joshua Akano

    Thinking Critically Of The Future Of Science

    How did you find PF?: Google Search In engineering, math, physics, and astronomy, which one has a fast development speed?
  31. tworitdash

    I Making Sense of Notation Confusion in Statistical Digital Signal Processing

    I started my research in statistical digital signal processing two years ago, so I need to familiarize myself with all the notations people use in probability and statistics. I come from a deterministic science background. I name my variables based on what they mean. A velocity is a v , a...
  32. jedishrfu

    What once was Science Fiction now is Fact

    Today I learned that once again a Star Trek story is soon to become fact: In the story of the M5 computer, human engrams were used to augment a new class of computers to supercede the duotronic ones on the starship Enterprise. Now in real life, we have one based on mouse cells...
  33. kyphysics

    Science of Evaporation - General & Personal Questions

    Wasn't sure where to categorize this thread, but thought chemistry would be the most appropriate (mods: feel free to move as you see fit). I have some questions on the science of water evaporation - first in general terms and then within the context of something that happened to me. General...
  34. T

    Can Falling in Love Increase Longevity? Psychology & Science Explained

    Hi again all, hope you are all doing great and enjoying the spring as well as nice weather. This is sort of a continuation thread of my falling in love thread here that I posted a while back but with a new question witch is: Can I get the same effect to live longer by falling in love, having sex...
  35. AtoMick-u235

    B Is Brian or Jim Wrong? (the science of Dr. Who)

    i made a comment on youtube = It's only 4 minutes long, see the last minute If Jim went away at 99.94 c, for 10 years, and we see him take 29 years, 1) what doe's that mean, it means that Jim's apparent speed from Earths veiw has to be slower than 99.94 c, because it took longer, it equals...
  36. W

    I Successful predictions from anthropics? (History of science question)

    Earth's distance from the sun is said to lie in a small Habitable Zone (HZ) . How did it come to be in such a fortunate position? It seems that someone in the past could have asked this question and concluded on the basis of anthropics there must be a large number of planets in our galaxy. My...
  37. Pipsqueakalchemist

    Engineering (material science) Fatigue life prediction using integral

    So for this question, I understand the math but just wanted to be clear on a few things. So I had this question on my midterm but instead of tensile and compressive stresses, it was tensile and tensile stress. I initially thought that the delta sigma in the integral was the maximum stress so in...
  38. G

    Exploring Evolutionary History of Bats: Myth vs. Science

    From where I stand, human evolution from primates is more evidence-based and storied than our understanding of bats. Do we have an evolutionary understanding of bats? Or are their origins still more myth than science?
  39. P

    Physics Looking to transition from data science to computational physics

    In my late twenties, currently working as a data scientist in the UK, looking to sit A level maths, further maths and physics as a private candidate (not going through a distance learning provider) and pursue a joint degree in physics and computer science (which I know both St Andrews and...
  40. Someon332

    Schools What are some good science fair project ideas or resources?

    I am currently a sophomore in HS, and I have a science fair project next year. I want to do something interesting- I don't want to put in barely any effort and do something that everyone has done, like 'growing plants in different light levels'. I would ideally like to do something with...
  41. S

    What science forums support philosophical discussions?

    My thread "Space-time quantization and its philosophical aspect" was closed. Can you suggest other science forum where I can create such threads? I have many ideas of this kind, and I want to initiate conversations about them. And what forums support the discussion of new ideas and hypotheses in...
  42. H

    Other General Science on modern technology and space technology.

    I’m in need of recommendation of a general science book (‘general’ means just a bit of introduction and its application, not going into its detailed theoretical and technical workings) which contains the following topics (though not exhaustive) Space Technology: the basic concept of launching...
  43. Greg Bernhardt

    Most commonly misspelled science and math words

    I'm looking for a list of commonly misspelled science and math words. What do you see often?
  44. K

    John love physics

    I 'v worked as a physics teacher in a famous senior school since I got my degree in 1996. And, reading is one of my loves.
  45. C

    B Question about inductive and deductive arguments in science

    Hello everyone! I have a question about a potential flaw I see in the scientific method, but I hope people will illuminate me, and convince me that science has no problem in the respect I might lament on. What if a scientific premise in a deductive argument is based on an observation, and we...
  46. Quantour

    Admissions BS Physics to Ph.D. in Computer Science

    I am currently a final-year undergraduate student whose primary major is Physics. I double major in Computer Science, and my grade is currently near-top in my department from a prestigious university (non-US, top in my country). My research experience during undergrad has primarily been about...
  47. jedishrfu

    B Elbert Another Forgotten Woman who helped advance Science

    https://www.eurasiareview.com/18092022-her-work-helped-her-boss-win-the-nobel-prize-now-the-spotlight-is-on-her/
  48. quasar987

    Science journalists to follow on twitter

    So, I'm not on twitter but I just heard Sean Caroll say on his podcast that he's following science journalists on twitter and that he uses that to know when something interesting happens in science because these journalists will link to it. Do some of you do that also? I'd like to know who you...
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