Natural Sciences
Natural sciences refers to sciences that study those parts of the universe obeying "laws" or "rules" of "natural" origin as opposed to areas subject to human decisions within human society (the subject of social sciences). There is no accepted taxonomy of natural sciences, however the main "disciplines" are astronomy, biology , chemistry, and physics. Some also place interdisciplinary sciences earth sciences in the primary list which applies biology , chemistry, and physics to the scientific understanding of the earth.
Note: Because of their relative importance within the Encyclopedia of Earth, earth sciences and many other natural sciences are not included under "Natural Sciences" in the EoE taxonomy but at a equivalent level in the taxonomy.
Many environmentally-related sciences usually (but not always) included under disciplines include:
- Biology - ecology, evolutionary biology, marine biology, soil biology, zoology, etc.
- Chemistry - organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, etc.
- Physics - atmospheric physics, geophysics,
The are many interdisciplinary natural sciences, such as: atmospheric sciences, biochemistry, biophysics, climatology, geodesy, geology, glaciology, hydrology, materials science, meteorology, mineralogy, oceanography, soil science, volcanology, and many, many others,
Some scientific studies like geography can combine both natural and social sciences. Physical geography is entirely a natural science.
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Featured Article
Geophony, Biophony, and Anthrophony
What do these words mean? Biophony is the melodic sound created by such organisms as frogs and birds; geophony, the composition of non-biological sounds like wind, rain and... More »
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Featured Article
Groundwater inflow
Groundwater inflow represents an important part of groundwater assessment methodology within the hydrological cycle. This article reviews chief methodology for estimating the... More »
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Featured Article
Epigenetics: The Science of Change
Researchers, physicians, and others have investigated the dark crevices of the gene, trying to untangle clues that might indicate that gene function could be altered by more... More »
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Featured Article
Antarctica: A Journey of Discovery
Useful to Teachers Across Disciplines The National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs has produced a full-color, extensively illustrated booklet that highlights... More »
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Featured Article
A Greener Future for our Nation
Cultivating the Seeds of Knowledge: Growing a Greener Future for our Nation As the bitter chill of winter retreats, the vibrancy of spring beckons us outdoors reminding... More »
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Featured Gallery
Agriculture I
Humans began to cultivate food crops about 10,000 years ago. Prior to that time, hunter-gatherers secured their food as they traveled in the nearby environment. When they... More »
Precambrian
Last Updated on 2013-03-09 at 21:49
This article on the Precambrian was written by Ben Waggoner; A.G.C.
According to geological constructs, the Precambrian commenced at the outset of the Earth's... More »
Photosynthesis
Last Updated on 2013-02-18 at 15:00
Introduction
Photosynthesis is a process in plants, algae, and some prokaryotes, that coverts solar insolation into chemical energy stored in... More »
Natural selection
Last Updated on 2012-11-18 at 19:43
Introduction
Natural selection Natural selection is an agent of microevolutionary change in which a population of an organism becomes better adapted to its habitat by... More »
Mollusca
Last Updated on 2012-11-15 at 11:46
Introduction
Molluscs are soft-bodied invertebrates whose main features are a foot for locomotion, a mantle which secretes a hard calcium shell, a general head... More »
NCSE-NASA Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Climate...
Last Updated on 2012-10-09 at 13:29
Project Description
Nine curricular modules for a general education course on climate change that faculty can readily adopt and adapt.
Components use... More »
Coral reef
Last Updated on 2012-10-06 at 16:41
Coral Reefs
Coral reef generally refers to a marine ecosystem in which the principal organisms are corals that harbour algal symbionts within their tissues. These... More »
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