The Science Portal
Science, in the broadest sense of the term, refers to any system of knowledge attained by verifiable means. In a more restricted sense,
science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on
empiricism,
experimentation, and methodological
naturalism, as well as to the organized body of
knowledge humans have gained by such qualified
research.
Scientists maintain that scientific investigation must adhere to the scientific method, a rigorous process for properly developing and evaluating natural explanations for observable phenomena based on reliable empirical evidence and neutral, unbiased independent verification, and not on arguments from authority or popular preferences. Science therefore bypasses supernatural explanations, it instead only considers natural explanations that may be falsifiable.
Fields of science are distinguished as pure science or applied science. Pure science is principally involved with the discovery of new truths with little or no regard to their practical applications. Applied science is principally involved with the application of existing knowledge in new ways, including advances in technology.
Mathematics is the language in which scientific information is best presented, often it is the only way to formulate and present scientific knowledge. Therefore whether mathematics is a science in itself or the framework of science is a matter of perspective.
A
comet is a small body in the solar system that orbits the
Sun and (at least occasionally) exhibits a
coma (or atmosphere) and/or a tail — both due primarily to the effects of solar radiation upon the comet's
nucleus, which itself is a minor planet composed of rock, dust, and ices. Due to their origins in the outer solar system and their propensity to be highly affected (or
perturbed) by relatively close approaches to the major planets, comets' orbits are constantly changing. Some are moved into sungrazing orbits that destroy the comets when they are near the Sun, while others are thrown out of the solar system forever.
Most comets are believed to originate in a cloud (the Oort cloud) at large distances from the Sun consisting of debris left over from the condensation of the solar nebula; the outer edges of such nebulae are cool enough that water exists in a solid (rather than gaseous) state. Asteroids originate via a different process, but very old comets which have lost all their volatile materials may come to resemble asteroids.
An 18th Century Persian astrolabe used for determining the time at both day and night. The points of the curved spikes on the front rete plate, mark the positions of the brightest stars. The name of each star being labeled at the base of each spike. The back plate, or mater is engraved with projected coordinate lines. From the Whipple M
