Sciences

Although in most places science is taught as different disciplines, actually, it's all connected! In order to do research in the Earth and space sciences - also sometimes called the "geosciences", you need to have a strong background in all the sciences, as well as in mathematics, too. In this section, we have brought together information related to the Earth and space sciences from across our website on the different scientific disciplines. Explore these links to find out more about geology, physics, chemistry, and biology.
The Pompeii worm, the most heat-tolerant animal on Earth, lives in the deep ocean at <a href="/earth/Water/life_deep.html">hydrothermal vents</a>. The worm's back is covered in bacteria adapted for living in <a href="/earth/extreme_environments.html">extreme environments</a>. The bacteria also grows on the surfaces of the chimneys where hot liquids spew from below the sea floor.<p><small><em>Courtesy of the University of Delaware</em></small></p>Everything you see around you is made of tiny particles called <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/atom.html">atoms</a>. There are many different types of atoms, each with a special combination of <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/proton.html">protons</a>, <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/neutron.html">neutrons</a> and <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/electron.html">electrons</a>. These different types of atoms are called <a href="/physical_science/element.html">elements</a>.<p><small><em> L.Gardiner/Windows to the Universe</em></small></p>Although we humans have never experienced fast <a href="/earth/climate/climate.html">global warming</a>, our planet has. And our planet keeps records of what happened. The oldest records that the <a href="/earth/earth.html">Earth</a> keeps are in its <a href="/earth/geology/sed_intro.html">rocks</a>. In this image, <a href="/headline_universe/olpa/methane_28may08.html">geologists Chris von der Borch and Dave Mrofka</a> collect sediment samples in South Australia. These rocks hold clues to help explain why climate changed abruptly 635 million years ago.<p><small><em> Courtesy of Martin Kennedy, UCR</em></small></p>In the spring of 2010, the eruption of a <a href="/earth/interior/volcanos_general.html">volcano</a> called Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland cancelled many flights in Europe. Eyjafjallajökull is a glaciovolcano, which means it's a volcano that is covered by <a href="/earth/polar/cryosphere_glacier1.html">glaciers</a>. When these <a href="/earth/polar/cryosphere_intro.html">ice</a>-covered volcanoes <a href="/earth/interior/eruptions.html">erupt</a>, the interplay among molten <a href="/earth/interior/lava.html">magma</a>, ice and meltwater can have catastrophic results.<p><small><em>Image Courtesy of Marco Fulle</em></small></p>A view of the Earth as seen by the <a href="/space_missions/apollo17.html">Apollo 17</a> crew while traveling to the <a href="/earth/moons_and_rings.html">Moon</a> on December 7, 1972. Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula are visible, and you can barely make out the <a href="/earth/polar/antarctica.html">Antarctic</a>, shrouded in the heavy <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/cloud.html">cloud</a> cover in the southern hemisphere. Arching cloud patterns show the presence of <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/front.html">weather fronts</a>.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of NASA/Apollo 17.</em></small></p>Daniel Wolf Savin, a senior research scientist at Columbia University's Astrophysics Laboratory, has published a paper on the research he and his colleagues have done on how stars began. They learned that hydrogen and helium produced all other <a href="/physical_science/element.html">elements</a> in the <a href="/the_universe/the_universe.html">universe</a>. Find out more about their research <a href="/headline_universe/olpa/stars_01july10.html">here</a>.<p><small><em> Image Courtesy of Daniel Wolf Savin, Columbia University</em></small></p>

Windows to the Universe Community

News

Opportunities

Upcoming W2U Events
Join Today - Benefits,
No Ads!
Special Offers for Teachers
Member Benefits
Teacher Newsletter
Partnership Opportunities

Explore Sciences

Geology

Geology means, literally, the study of the Earth. Explore this section to understand the structure ...Read more

Physics

Physics is the study of basic properties, materials, and forces in our Universe. Our new physics ...Read more

Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of matter, energy, and their interactions. Chemists study the composition ...Read more

Biology

Biology is the study of life and living organisms. Biologists study the structure of organisms, ...Read more

Research Highlights

Windows to the Universe is now highlighting breaking science news and cool multimedia from ...Read more

Scientists

Who made the first star map? When did people know that the Earth was round? When were sunspots ...Read more

Research Expeditions

When scientists go out to explore the Earth they often wind up in pretty interesting places ...Read more

Scientific Process

How do scientists actually come up with explanations for the things that happen around us? ...Read more

Evolution

This Windows to the Universe Exploratour examines the scientific evidence of biological evolution. ...Read more

More about Sciences

Did you know?

Do you know what the shape of your earlobes has to do with your genetics?

Do you know about the secret lives of wild animals?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Plate tectonics
xPlate tectonics : The theory supported by a wide range of evidence that considers the Earth's crust and upper mantle to be composed of several large, thin, relatively rigid plates that move relative to one another.

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Marine Scientists, Students Find Widespread Floating Plastic Debris in North Atlantic Ocean

A team of researchers from the Sea Education Association (SEA), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the University of Hawaii (UH) has conducted a study of plastic debris in the ocean based...Read more

Shop Windows to the Universe

The Fall 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist, sponsored by MII/SME, focuses on rocks and minerals. Check out the other publications in our online store, as well as classroom materials.

Generous sponsorship of Windows to the Universe is provided by the Hewlett Foundation, the American Geological Institute, the American Geophysical Union, the National Science Foundation, NASA, NCAR, and the CISM and CMMAP projects. NASA CMMAP AGU CISM NCAR Hewlett AGI NSF