Fields of Study
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Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects (such as stars , planets , comets , nebulae , star clusters and galaxies ) and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth (such as cosmic background radiation ). It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe . Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. Prehistoric cultures left behind astronomical artifacts such as the Egyptian monuments , Nubian monuments and Stonehenge , and early civilizations such as the Babylonians , Greeks , Chinese , Indians , Iranians and Maya performed methodical observations of the night sky . However, the invention of the telescope was required before astronomy was able to develop into a modern science.
Astronomy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Astronomy Notes
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Parapsychology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American psychologist and philosopher William James (1842–1910) was an early psychical researcher. [ 1 ] The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir , and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology . The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research . [ 2 ] Parapsychologists study a number of ostensible paranormal phenomena, including telepathy , precognition , clairvoyance , psychokinesis , near-death experiences , reincarnation and apparitional experiences .
Ethnobotany ( from " ethnology " - study of culture [ 1 ] and " botany " - study of plants ) is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants . Ethnobotanists aim to document, describe and explain complex relationships between cultures and (uses of) plants, focusing primarily on how plants are used, managed and perceived across human societies. This includes use for food, clothing, currency, ritual, medicine, dye, construction, cosmetics and more. [ 2 ] Though the term "ethnobotany" was not coined until 1895 by the US botanist John William Harshberger , the history of the field begins long before that. In A.D. 77, the Greek surgeon Dioscorides published " De Materia Medica ", which was a catalog of about 600 plants in the Mediterranean.
Ethnobotany - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An arrangement of psychoactive drugs Psychopharmacology (from Greek ψῡχή , psȳkhē , "breath, life, soul"; φάρμακον , pharmakon , "drug"; and -λογία , -logia ) is the scientific study of the actions of drugs and their effects on mood , sensation , thinking, and behavior. It is distinguished from neuropsychopharmacology , which emphasizes drug-induced changes in the functioning of cells in the nervous system. [ 1 ] The field of psychopharmacology studies a wide range of substances with various types of psychoactive properties, focusing primarily on the chemical interactions with the brain.
Psychopharmacology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base metals into the noble metals gold or silver , as well as an elixir of life conferring youth and immortality. Western alchemy is recognized as a protoscience that contributed to the development of modern chemistry and medicine . Alchemists developed a framework of theory, terminology, experimental process and basic laboratory techniques that is still recognizable today. But alchemy differs from modern science in the inclusion of Hermetic principles and practices related to mythology , religion , and spirituality . [ edit ] Overview
Alchemy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neuroscience of Free Will
Neuroscience of free will refers to recent neuroscientific investigation of questions concerning free will . It is a topic of philosophy and science . One question is whether, and in what sense, rational agents exercise control over their actions or decisions. As it has become possible to study the living brain , researchers have begun to watch decision making processes at work.
Gerontology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gerontology (from the Greek γέρων , geron , "old man" and -λογία, -logy , "study of"; coined by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov in 1903) is the study of the social , psychological and biological aspects of aging . It is distinguished from geriatrics , which is the branch of medicine that studies the diseases of older adults. Gerontologists includes researchers and practitioners in the fields of biology, medicine, nursing, dentistry, social work, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, economics, political science, architecture, pharmacy, public health, housing and anthropology. [ 1 ]Eugenics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eugenics is the " applied science or the bio- social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population ", usually referring to the manipulation of human populations. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance , and the theories of August Weismann . [ 4 ] Historically, many of the practitioners of eugenics viewed eugenics as a science, not necessarily restricted to human populations; this embraced the views of Darwinism and Social Darwinism .
Sociology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sociology is the scientific study of society . [ 1 ] It is a social science which uses various methods of empirical investigation [ 2 ] and critical analysis [ 3 ] to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity. It focuses on the influence of our relationships around us and how they affect our behaviours and attitudes. For many sociologists the goal is to conduct research which may be applied directly to social policy and welfare, while others focus primarily on refining the theoretical understanding of social processes. Subject matter ranges from the micro level of individual agency and interaction to the macro level of systems and the social structure . [ 4 ]
Anthropology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anthropology / æ n θ r ɵ ˈ p ɒ l ə dʒ i / is a social science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, social customs, and beliefs of humankind. It has origins in the humanities , the natural sciences , and the social sciences . [ 1 ] The term " anthropology " is from the Greek anthrōpos ( ἄνθρωπος ), "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia (-λογία), "discourse" or "study." Anthropology's basic concerns are the definition of human life and origin, how social relations among humans are organized, who the ancestors of modern Homo sapiens are, what the characterizations of human physical traits are, how humans behave, why there are variations among different groups of humans, how the evolutionary past of Homo sapiens has influenced its social organization and culture and so forth. [ citation needed ]Primate skulls: Human, Chimpanzee, Orangutan, Macaque Biological anthropology (also known as bioanthropology [ 1 ] and physical anthropology ) is that branch of anthropology that studies the physical development of the human species. It plays an important part in paleoanthropology (the study of human origins) and in forensic anthropology (the analysis and identification of human remains for legal purposes). It draws upon human anthropometrics (body measurements), human genetics ( molecular anthropology ) and human osteology (the study of bones) and includes neuroanthropology , the study of human brain evolution, and of culture as neurological adaptation to environment.
Biological anthropology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reconstruction of an alleged Ogopogo sighting Cryptozoology (from Greek κρυπτός , kryptos , "hidden" + zoology ; literally, "study of hidden animals") refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven. This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs ; animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths , legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and Chupacabra ; [ 1 ] and wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats or "ABCs" (an initialism commonly used by cryptozoologists that stands for Alien Big Cats). The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids , a term coined by John Wall in 1983. [ 2 ]
Cryptozoology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quantum mechanics (QM - also known as quantum physics , or quantum theory ) is a branch of physics dealing with physical phenomena where the action is on the order of the Planck constant . Quantum mechanics departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic scales, the so-called " quantum realm ". QM provides a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like ("wavicle") behavior and interactions of energy and matter . In advanced topics of quantum mechanics, some of these behaviors are macroscopic and only emerge at extreme (i.e. very low or very high) energies or temperatures . The name "quantum mechanics" derives from the observation that some physical quantities can change only in discrete amounts (Latin quanta ), and not in a "continuous" ( cf. analog ) way.
Quantum mechanics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
String theory is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity . It is a contender for a theory of everything (TOE), a self-contained mathematical model that describes all fundamental forces and forms of matter . String theory posits that the electrons and quarks within an atom are not 0-dimensional objects, but rather 1-dimensional oscillating lines ("strings"). The earliest string model, the bosonic string , incorporated only bosons , although this view developed to the superstring theory , which posits that a connection (a " supersymmetry ") exists between bosons and fermions .