science

Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge about the natural world in the form of testable explanations and predictions. It aims to describe, understand, and intervene in natural phenomena through observation, experimentation, and reason, with conclusions that are open to revision in light of new evidence.

The core method involves observations, formulating hypotheses, testing ideas through experiments or systematic data collection, and analyzing results before communicating conclusions. Key elements include skepticism, falsifiability, replicability, peer review, and the ongoing testing and refinement of theories as new data emerge.

Science covers several broad domains. Natural sciences study physical and biological systems, from atoms to ecosystems (for example, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science). Formal sciences examine abstract structures such as numbers and logic (mathematics, statistics). Applied sciences use scientific knowledge for practical purposes, including engineering, medicine, and technology.

Historically, science arose from ancient inquiry and matured during the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, with figures such as Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton. It expanded through the modern era, embracing new tools, methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration that connect theory, observation, and experimentation.

Science informs public policy, industry, health, and education. Its advances have transformed agriculture, communications, and energy, while raising questions about ethics, safety, and environmental impact. The production and dissemination of knowledge increasingly emphasize openness, collaboration, replication, and transparent reporting.

Limitations include uncertainty and the provisional nature of knowledge, the complexity of many systems, and issues with reproducibility and bias. Ongoing challenges involve funding, access to information, and the responsible use of findings. Nevertheless, science remains a central method for explaining and predicting natural phenomena.