There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing a field of study. Perhaps you are wondering, "What are the five sciences?" Natural science is an academic discipline that examines natural phenomena. The primary natural science disciplines are physics, chemistry, and biology.
The study of substances and their interactions with the physical universe is physics. It is one of the oldest sciences and an indispensable component of the natural universe. Physics investigates the how and why of atomic, nuclear, and cosmological phenomena. It is the foundational discipline for all other sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and astronomy.
It is the foundation of most modern technology and enables the creation and use of novel scientific, engineering, and medical instruments and tools. Without physics, wind turbines, solar panels, and satellites would not exist, nor would X-rays and MRIs be used to diagnose diseases.
Chemistry is the study of matter, including its characteristics and transformations. Compounds composed of atoms, molecules, or ions are studied, as well as their composition, structure, qualities, and behaviour, as well as how they change when combined with other substances.
A phase is the state of solid, liquid, or gas formed by the constituents of a chemical. There are numerous phases whose temperatures and pressures vary.
Every substance in the universe is made up of atoms, including medicine, sustenance, and every other product. These atoms are the building elements of chemistry, making this science crucial to our daily lives.
Biology is the study of biological organisms, particularly plants and animals. Botany, zoology, ecology, genetics, marine biology, and medicine are among the many disciplines involved.
The subject of biology instructs students on the structure, function, and evolution of biological organisms. Biology is an interdisciplinary field of study that employs the scientific method to determine verifiable facts and formulate theories about biological processes and mechanisms.
Biologists investigate every aspect of life, from the smallest molecules to the largest animals. Their research contributes to a better understanding of how life functions and what makes it unique, as well as how it evolves, interacts with its environment, and how humans influence all forms of life.
Astronomy is the study of all objects outside the Earth's atmosphere, such as stars, planets, moons, comets, and galaxies. It employs mathematics, physics, and chemistry to explain the origins and evolution of organisms and to predict future events.
As with all other sciences, astronomy encompasses a diverse array of subdisciplines. Astrophysics, cosmology, and heliophysics are among these. Astronomy is one of the earliest sciences and has a profound effect on our planet. Observing the constellations helped ancient cultures keep track of the seasons and calculate calendars, and it is still used by some to make future predictions.
The field of atmospheric science examines the weather, air quality, and climate of the Earth. It examines problems that are both scientifically difficult and crucial to contemporary society.
The study of the atmosphere encompasses chemistry, physics, meteorology, computer modelling, oceanography, geology, and volcanology. Climatology, which focuses on long-term patterns and their influences, also has an impact.
The atmospheric sciences encompass a broad spectrum of scales, from localized climate systems on a small scale to global climate models. Numerous atmospheric research programs at PNNL are focused on enhancing the predictive ability of these and other models.