Science is the name for our society's attempt to understand the physical world. The way scientists do this is called the scientific method. (For more information about the scientific method, see The Scientific Method by Donald E. Simanek from Lockhaven University of Pennsylvania and On Scientific Method by Percy W. Bridgman.)

Science should never claim to have ultimate truth like some religions do. Science is about process. As scientists learn and study more, they--hopefully--come to a closer and closer approximation of the layout of the physical world. Einstein and Newton are a very good example of this. Einstein's theory of gravity replaced Newton's. Yet, it wasn't because Newton was completely wrong--just limited. His theory only works on a planet's surface. Einstein's theories go beyond Newton to explain how gravity works everywhere. Someday, Einstein's theory may be replaced by an even more accurate one when we learn more about the universe.

Scientists are only human. They can make mistakes, be prejudiced, commit fraud,or just lack understanding. Unfortunately, some people confuse the frailties of scientists with the existence of science and the physical world. Scientists are wrong sometimes, but that doesn't mean you can just pick the fantasy of your choice and make it a reality. We can't prove reality exists outside our own minds, but even if the laws of nature are a construct, we can't change them at will. For example, you may want to believe that people can use their psychic energy to fly, but if you jump off a cliff you'll find out your mistake soon enough.

On the other hand, although scientists have made many impressive discoveries, that should not be cause for arrogance. There is much we don't yet know about the world, and much that other cultures can teach us. It's a matter of keeping your perspective.

This page will mostly concentrate on recent scientific discoveries that show connections between different disciplines.

Complexity Theory (http://courseweb.edteched.uottawa.ca/POP8910/Notes/Complexity.htm) Another explanation of Complexity from a course description from the University of Ottawa. Also nontechnical.

Back to Top of Page

Everything Is Connected: Science: Ecology

Ecology
The Ecologist (http://www.theecologist.org) Applies the science of ecology to environmental, social, political, philosophical, and economic issues with an emphasis on current events. Its motto is 'Rethinking Basic Assumptions'. This magazine is international in scope with the world's largest circulation in its subject area. The website has a great database of full-text articles searchable by subject. The only drawback is that the current issue is not available online. Otherwise, it's a great resource.

Biodiversity and Conservation by Peter J. Bryant (http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/bio65/Titlpage.htm) This hypertext book is about the importance of earth's biodiversity, and how it is endangered. Biodiversity means the number of different species of plants and animals that form the web of life. Chapter 16, which describes the relationship between population growth and agriculture, is particularly interesting. It is related to the work of Daniel Quinn. Mr. Bryant is a professor at the University of California, Irvine. The book was written for an undergraduate class there, and it is very readable.

Back to Top of Page

Everything Is Connected: Science: Ecopsychology

Ecopsychology
This multidisciplinary field combines Ecology and Psychology to to study the causes of environmentally destructive behaviour, and how living in artificial environments affects mental health.

Ecopsychology On-Line (http://ecopsychology.athabascau.ca/) Unfortunately, this electronic magazine from the Athabasca University in Canada seems to be no longer published, but it contains a very good defintion of ecopsychology combined with some excellent articles on the subject.

Back to Top of Page

Everything Is Connected: Science: Anthropology

Anthropology

Ecological Anthropology (University of Alabama) (http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/ecologic.htm) Studies how different cultures interact with the environment. Discipline is largely involved in examining issues like the effect of resources on population growth and any resulting environmental damage. Website provides a very good, detailed summary of the basic ideas, leading researchers, books, and links.

Back to Top of Page

Everything Is Connected: Science: Physics

Physics
Chaos Theory
A new scientific theory for dealing with systems that are complex, unpredictable, and/or have random events, or, in other words, most of the real world. Natural systems are so complicated that no matter how carefully we measure them, we can't know everything about them. Although measurements can be extremely accurate, they can't be accurate to infinity, and tiny differences/errors in the beginning can lead to gigantic ones later. This is known as the Butterfly Effect, because under the right circumstances, the effect of the fluttering of a butterfly's wings can make the differenence between whether or not there will be a tornado.(So much for ever getting accurate weather predictions.)This shows how even the actions of the smallest creature can have a large effect on the whole.

What is Chaos? A Five-Part Online Course For Everyone (http://order.ph.utexas.edu/chaos) A very good, very short (Each part is only a paragraph long), nontechnical explanation from the University of Texas at Austin.

See the Alternative Energy section for information about controversial subjects like cold fusion.

Back to Top of Page

Everything Is Connected: Science: Mathematics

Mathematics
Fractal Geometry
Remember high school geometry? Euclidian geometry only works in a two dimensional world, and of course our world has at least four dimensions, including time. There are no two-dimensional objects in the real world, and there aren't very many three-dimensional objects shaped like perfect cubes, pyramids, or spheres, either. Fractal geometry is totally different. Its equations can describe irregular shapes in nature, including those of plants and animals like leaves, or branches, or the shape of your arm. All the parts are the same as the whole, so that you can increase or decrease the magnitude to infinity, and they still create the same shape(s). Fractal geometry is often utilized by researchers specializing in Chaos Theory. The pictures created by fractal geometry equations are also very beautiful. They resemble the images you see in a kaleidoscope, or when you rub your eyes. Here are some examples:

            
What Is Fractal Geometry? Worlds Within Worlds (http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/montgomery/fractalquest/fmmwhatisit.htm) Nice, short, easy to read explanation of fractals from Montgomery Academy.

The Geometry Junkyard (http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/junkyard/fractal.html) Fractal art, jewelry, internet games, and other cool stuff. Some of it does get technical, but most isn't.

The Nature of Fractals (http://www.fractovia.org) A detailed explanation of fractals that isn't too technical. Website also includes over 600 pages related to fractals with many pictures and an art gallery.

Fractalism Art Gallery (www.fractalism.com) Many beautiful images, combining mathematics and art, created from fractal equations.