A checklist for science

So, what is science, exactly? Science, on the other hand, is difficult to describe accurately.

(For decades, philosophers have debated it!) The issue is that the phrase is ambiguous.

From inventing lasers to examining the elements that influence human decision-making, the term
"science" encompasses a wide range of human undertakings.

We'll look at a checklist that highlights important qualities of science and compare it to an archetypal
scenario of science in action to gain a sense of what science is.

Rutherford's research on the atom's structure. Then we'll look at some more less "typical" instances of
science to see how they stack up and how they stack up.

what similarities they have

This checklist serves as a reference for what types of activities are covered by science, however since the
limits of science are unclear, the list should not be used as a guide.

All-or-nothing has been interpreted. There are several of these features that are very significant.

to science (e.g., all research must depend on evidence in the end), while some are less so.

central. Some completely scientific inquiries, for example, may terminate in a dead end.

however it will not lead to continued research Use this checklist as a reminder of science's most
common characteristics. It shouldn't be used if it doesn't have the majority of these features.

how science is handled.

Science has a lot of questions regarding it.

world's natural

The natural world is studied by science. This comprises all of the physical components.

Atoms, plants, ecosystems, people, societies, and galaxies make up the universe around us.

as well as the forces at work in nature

stuff. Science, on the other hand, is unable to investigate supernatural causes and explanations. The
notion of a supernatural afterlife, for example.

Because this afterlife occurs outside of the principles that govern it, existence is not a part of science.

the universe of nature

Anything in nature, from exotic ecosystems to urban pollutants, may be studied.

the focus of scientific research

Gerald and Buff Corsi of the California Academy of Sciences took the shot of Cococino National Forest;
NASA/JPL/ took the photo of Jupiter.
Dr. Robert Thomas and Dorothy B. Orr took the shot of the smoggy skyline for the Space Science
Institute; EPA took the photo of the fungus.

The Academy of Sciences of California.

2013 The Regents of the University of California and the University of California Museum of
Paleontology • www.understandingscience.org

11111111111

All types of questions may be investigated by science:

• How ancient are the oldest rocks on the planet?

• How do fungi get energy from the substances they consume via chemical reactions?

absorb?

• What is the source of Jupiter's red spot?

Smog travels through the atmosphere in a variety of ways.

In science, there are few questions that are off bounds, yet the kind of solutions that science can supply
are restricted. Only natural occurrences and natural processes may be used by science to respond.
Inquiries like "What is the purpose of life?" are common.

Is there such a thing as a soul? We usually anticipate replies that aren't in the normal order.

Outside of science—and so outside of the globe

RUTHERFORD IS A SCIENCE PROTOTYPE.

ET ALSO THE ATOM

Ernest Rutherford studied (among other things) in the early 1900s.

other things) the structure of the atom, which is the most basic particle in nature. Amid atoms

They are not visible to the human eye, but they may be investigated.

because they are part of the natural world using the instruments of science

As we investigate each object, Rutherford's narrative continues.

on the Checklist for Science Read on to see how this inquiry compares to the rest of the checklist.

on.

Rutherford, Ernest

The Library of Congress has a picture of Rutherford.

2013 The Regents of the University of California and the University of California Museum of
Paleontology • www.understandingscience.org
6

Science's goal is to explain and comprehend things.

As a collaborative institution, science aspires to

natural theories of how nature operates that are more and more correct,

how the universe works, what its components are, and how

It had to be this way for a while. Regardless of its origins, science's basic purpose has always been to
create knowledge and understanding.

prospective uses, such as examining the chemical processes that occur in an organic material

In order to understand about compound undergoes

it's made of Scientific methods, on the other hand, are becoming more popular.

The purpose of research is stated outright.

of resolving an issue or creating a technology, and introducing new technologies along the way

The construction of knowledge and explanations.

A chemist, for example, would attempt to make anything.

an antimalarial medication that may be synthesized and used in the

find new techniques of forming, and procedure

Bonds that can be used to make other compounds are available. In whatever case (so-called "pure" or
not)

Science (sometimes known as "applied" research) strives to improve our knowledge of how the natural
world works.

What happens in the world

Science's knowledge is continually open to new discoveries.

to re-examine and revise There is never a scientific concept.

Why not "proven" once and for all? Because science is.

always seeking fresh evidence that might shed light on the truth

There are issues with our existing perceptions. A few suggestions

In the future, we completely acknowledge that we may be rejected or amended.

tomorrow, in light of fresh evidence found Paleontologists, for example, supported the theory until
1938.

coelacanths (ancient fish) were extinct when they last appeared in the wild.
About 80 million years ago, the fossil record began. However, a live coelacanth was found off the coast
of South Africa that year, prompting scientists to reconsider their theories and begin to investigate.

Examine how this creature thrives in the deep oceans.

Scientific theories are dependable, despite the fact that they are prone to change. The concepts

They have achieved scientific acceptability because they are backed by the scientific community.

several lines of evidence These scientific explanations establish consistent expectations, enabling us to
predict how natural things in the environment are likely to act (e.g., how likely it is that a child will
inherit a particular genetic disease)

and how we might use that knowledge to solve issues (for example, how electricity,

A functional light bulb may be made from of wire, glass, and a variety of chemicals). For

Understanding the motion and gases in science, for example, allows us to construct aircraft that fly.

Get us from one airport to the next on a regular basis. Despite the fact that the information used to
construct aircraft is technically temporary, it has enabled us to design airplanes time and time again.

to create flying aircraft We have an excellent reason to believe in scientific ideas: they are effective!