The best science?

[nickeley102]

I enjoy theoretical physics in my spare time. To be honest, physics seems the the only science which has a forefront, biology and chemistry seem to just be increased classification and measurement. I don't understand how anyone can not be interested in where theoretical physics and philosophy meet (see Einstein-Bohr debates).

 

 

 

At a professional level I have been training as a secondary teacher for 3 years and can say that mathematics is the most fulfilling to teach, the following is true for all sciences but most pronounced in maths, once somebody understands a concept they can apply it to any scenario repeatedly with just a pencil and paper. The learning is immediate, other subjects you come to school the next day and have to re-explain everything.

 

 

 

Once you can differentiate you can differentiate, and kids smile and love to complete the rest of the exercise

[thrash-boy]

 

couldn't agree with that more. MATH is the core to ALL science. without it science would be just a big scramble of garbage.

 

imagine trying to do any science if you couldn't even add 1 and 1. it would be useless.

[BlueLancer]

Like that comic strip shows, it's the root of everything that involves logic, building, technology, sciences.. I detested advanced math in school & never had motivation to study it, but always understood it's importance in different structures

 

 

 

Doesn't really matter if you're an architect, psychologist, chemist, computer engineer, physics modeler, sculptor... Anything that has *anything* to do with logical appliance of materials or concepts/ratios, is directly linked to math.

 

 

 

Math is the ultimate science from which other sciences branch. Not the most interesting one for some people (like me), but that's how it is in reality.

 

 

 

Just like C++, visualbasic, etc... Those are independent programming languages, but their functionality ultimately derives from the x86 assembly language that can translate sequences and variables into machine code.

[warri0r45]

I wouldn't call math a science. If it doesn't propose testable hypotheses then it can't be.

 

 

 

Not that this makes it any less important or anything. Many scientific hypotheses are in fact tested by using maths (statistics).

[BlueLancer]

That's actually correct warri0r, apologies. Since it doesn't "propose" anything, the correct term would be academic discipline instead of 'science', but that term is occassionally used

 

 

 

http://www.willamette.edu/cla/catalog/2 ... ines/math/

 

 

 

Mathematics is sometimes called the science of pattern and order. It relies on logic as a standard of truth, but uses observation and even experimentation as means of discovering truth. Mathematicians think of their work as a blend of science and art

[nickeley102]

I wouldn't call math a science. If it doesn't propose testable hypotheses then it can't be.

 

 

 

Not that this makes it any less important or anything. Many scientific hypotheses are in fact tested by using maths (statistics).

 

I always thought a science was a subject with definite answers, whereas an art, or humanity, is open to interpretation (no answer is wrong so long as you explain the relevance). That makes maths a science and psychology an art. Acyually, come to think of it, if you graduate from my university with a maths degree you recieve a BSc (bachelor of science) and psychology is a BA (bachelor of arts)

[Orpheus]

Mathematics are more useful, especially with Physics.

[assassin_696]

I always thought a science was a subject with definite answers, whereas an art, or humanity, is open to interpretation (no answer is wrong so long as you explain the relevance). That makes maths a science and psychology an art. Acyually, come to think of it, if you graduate from my university with a maths degree you recieve a BSc (bachelor of science) and psychology is a BA (bachelor of arts)

 

 

 

I find the distinction between maths and science quite interesting. I certainly wouldn't say science is a subject with "definite" answers. In fact the more you study science the more you need to be aware of uncertainty, errors and estimations. But I agree it's not subjective. The reason why maths isn't a science is simply what warri0r said. Science proposes testable hypothesis which are either validated through empircal data or refuted. Maths is not empirical, it is based on proof. Also don't let what universities give you when you graduate confuse you. Cambridge University awards it's mathematicians BA's, and it's probably the toughest maths course in the world. It's just for historical reasons.

 

 

 

I also think maths is an art, in the sense that it can be very aesthetic. It's not coincidence that a lot of mathematicians talk about the "beauty" of a proof. It's not that the proof happens to work and be aesthetically pleasing, it's that it is beautiful because it works. Paul Dirac, the great theoretical physicist, once gave a lecture to some young researchers. His advice was to make their work beautiful, and the correctness would follow.

 

 

 

I find the distinction interesting in fields like theoretical physics (my main interest). Theoreticians might work purely with mathematical formulae, deriving and proving results and yet what they do still needs to be validated by experiment for it to be correct.

[dusqi]

I wouldn't call math a science. If it doesn't propose testable hypotheses then it can't be.

 

 

 

Not that this makes it any less important or anything. Many scientific hypotheses are in fact tested by using maths (statistics).

 

I always thought a science was a subject with definite answers, whereas an art, or humanity, is open to interpretation (no answer is wrong so long as you explain the relevance). That makes maths a science and psychology an art. Acyually, come to think of it, if you graduate from my university with a maths degree you recieve a BSc (bachelor of science) and psychology is a BA (bachelor of arts)

 

 

 

I got a BSc in Psychology from my university. Psychology has definite answers. It isn't based on introspection any more, nor do modern psychologists have time for any Freudian explanations, like the public seems to imagine.

 

 

 

My own psychological research, for example, looks at decision-making. I get people to make lots of decisions, record them all, and then do statistical analysis on the data. This is just like in physics, where they run lots of tests, record them all, and then analyse the data.

 

 

 

If you tell a physicist that the world is flat, then he tells you that you're wrong because of his observations. If you tell me that people make good decisions all of the time, then I tell you that you're wrong because of my observations.

[ChaosFlames]

Physics I'd have to say is the best. But I'm sort of biased, I'm only a sophmore so I haven't had Bio yet (My school offers physics as a class starting freshmen year, and bio junior year)

 

 

 

I used to be in love with life, how things work, that sort of stuff and I was really interested in biology. But since I started taking physics earlier than bio, I guess its a tie for me. If you're good with maths I'd say go with physics. If you're interested in a medical career or something to that affect go with Bio or chem.

 

 

 

Notice how I didn't mention chem in there? That's because the sciences in order from best to least goes like:

 

 

 

PHYSICS > Biology > Chemistry

 

 

 

(Aha, not really, but that's how it goes for me :thumbsup:)

 

I don't really hate chem, more or less the teacher. :evil:

[Mr_Adam]

Physics I'd have to say is the best. But I'm sort of biased, I'm only a sophmore so I haven't had Bio yet (My school offers physics as a class starting freshmen year, and bio junior year)

 

 

 

 

That's weird, we take physics in senior year and Bio in Freshman.

 

 

 

I'd have to say Physics > Math > Chemistry > Bio.

 

 

 

I haven't taken physics yet (still a freshman), but I'm looking forward to it.

 

Math is just useful anywhere, even if it's boring to learn. Math makes me feel smrt.

 

Chemistry I don't know much about, besides Chemical + Chemical = Explosion. Sounds fun.

 

Bio is painful. I don't really like it, because I don't find it that useful (I don't plan to become a doctor or anything). It's nice to know something else though. I also had a dream where my bio teacher was an alien, and had the mothership abduct me. 'Twasn't cool the next day :ohnoes:

[oegly41]

Is psychology considered not science or a sub-branch of biology?

 

 

 

Still, I think I must give my vote to biology. I find it interesting how life works. Math is quite interesting as well, it is useless on its own, but everything is useless without it.

[Barihawk]

I was a fan of physics as chemistry was just too beyond me and biology just not fun. Physics means you get to mess with things, which is a great deal of fun, and usually involves tools. Hurrah tools.

[db300]

Favorites in order:

 

 

 

Math

 

Chemistry

 

Physics

 

Biology

 

 

 

Math is my clear cut favorite, and it's also the most useful in most people's lives. Chemistry and Physics are pretty close for me, and I absolutely hate biology (even though I think it's easy).

[Will H]

My order:

 

 

 

Chemistry

 

Mathematics

 

Physics

 

Biology

 

 

 

Although I'm studying the top three for A level, because they're so important to each other. I think Chemistry is the most fascinating because it's both a fun challenge (like Mathematics) and you're messing around with the stuff of the universe (like Physics). Explosions, too.

 

 

 

Physics is third because it's so hard, and I think Biology is tedious compared to the others.

[mmmcannibalism]

is mathematics really a seperate science, I mean isnt it just the basis of every science?

 

 

 

um for that list my order

 

 

 

1. math--just love the stuff started calc this year and so cool

 

2. chem--I have a good bit of trouble in it but if you understand what you are learning its just amazing how things work

 

3. physics--plan on doing as my major, dont enjoy it yet because my school makes you take a real low level class before the good one so I feel insulted lols

 

4. bio--taking the pure bio class next year, just have had so much trouble that I dont like it. Im hoping I develop an understanding next year so I have decent skill at every core science

[r4ngewarlord]

biology and chemistry hopefully they will help me become ageless

[Ginger_Warrior]

Is psychology considered not science or a sub-branch of biology?

 

No. It's a humanity in my opinion. I think the closest 'science' you could get to psychology is sociology.

 

 

 

Apart from history, maths was my favourite subject until it got ridiculously complex and pointless so I dropped it. After, chemistry was my favourite and it shows in my exam results. I wasn't too keen on biology, hence why I got a B in it during A levels.

[Laura]

Chemistry and Physics. I'll just say chemistry, as I'm studying a more specific sub branch of it.

[Bauke]

I'm a medical biology student. So my pick is pretty obvious.

[dragoonson]

I'm a medical biology student. So my pick is pretty obvious.

 

 

 

Thats either chemistry or biology,so,no,its not.

[Zimbu]

I'm currently studying at the University of Helsinki University Department of Chemistry, but I have taken courses on both physics and math here at the university and I'm trying to get to med school, so I should be somewhat familiar with all of the subjects.

 

 

 

In my opinion a field of science is doing well when it's greatly benefitting mankind as a whole and the science done in the field is mostly good science, which means that the results are made easily available and the scientists aren't just trying to come up with results that benefit the companies they get their financing from. That being said, I think the best answer to the question is going to be a compromise.

 

 

 

At the moment it seems to me that biology and the fields of science related to it are experiencing explosive growth in the different ways they are benefitting us. However, all of the new crop plant varietes and drugs that are created seem to have big draw backs because of the patenting of genes and the power of medical/insurance companies. Just last week I read in the newspaper that borreliosis patients hadn't received proper treatment here in Finland because the guidelines for the treatment were made in the US by a group of scientists with strong relations to the local insurance companies. There is also a large amount of potential hazards ranging from improved doping methods to the second coming of eugenics as the modifying and analysing of DNA in humans becomes easier.

 

 

 

I've only taken a few courses on math mainly focusing on things needed for physics and I don't know much about how the scientific community works in math, but it appears as if math is in the complete opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to the growth in benefit and amount of bad science and corruption. There is a steady flow of new information, but the newly gained knowledge is mostly applied in things like improving the securing of data. Nobody seems to think that mathematics will change the world for the better in a way that we could all appreciate in the near future.

 

 

 

Physics and Chemistry are sort of in between these two IMO. Physics is closer to the open corruption-free environment of math because of the complete openness of science done in places like CERN, but the development of fusion techonology has the potential to really revolutionise the energy situation on a global scale. Chemistry on the other hand is largely dependant of chemical companies and is therefore closer to biology. None of the other sciences of the big three come close to the amount of scientific publications published annually in the field of chemistry. The bad thing is that chemical companies also finance scientists who are willing to blatantly lie about things like climate change. These scientists usually work hard on the media trying to make people believe that climate change is some kind of a hoax, but never send their articles to be peer reviewed.

 

 

 

But since I can only pick one I'm going to pick mathematics because there is a lot of hot chicks in the math department. :twss:

[nickeley102]

I changed your picture

 

[Demeige]

Physics because it's really fun. But it involves SO many different formulas and calculations, so it's easy to see why someone might dislike it.

 

 

 

Chemistry is a close second. :thumbsup:

[Allbot]

general chemisty is pretty boring, but i really like organic chemistry i think its kinda fun ;) physics is definetly my worst science i absolutely hate it lol.