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.
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&edu=high">elements</a> in the <a href="/the_universe/the_universe.html&edu=high">universe</a>. Find out more about their research <a href="/headline_universe/olpa/stars_01july10.html&edu=high">here</a>.<p><small><em> Image Courtesy of Daniel Wolf Savin, Columbia University</em></small></p>Although we humans have never experienced fast <a href="/earth/climate/climate.html&edu=high">global warming</a>, our planet has. And our planet keeps records of what happened. The oldest records that the <a href="/earth/earth.html&edu=high">Earth</a> keeps are in its <a href="/earth/geology/sed_intro.html&edu=high">rocks</a>. In this image, <a href="/headline_universe/olpa/methane_28may08.html&edu=high">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>The Pompeii worm, the most heat-tolerant animal on Earth, lives in the deep ocean at <a href="/earth/Water/life_deep.html&edu=high">hydrothermal vents</a>. The worm's back is covered in bacteria adapted for living in <a href="/earth/extreme_environments.html&edu=high">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>A view of the Earth as seen by the <a href="/space_missions/apollo17.html&edu=high">Apollo 17</a> crew while traveling to the <a href="/earth/moons_and_rings.html&edu=high">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&edu=high">Antarctic</a>, shrouded in the heavy <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/cloud.html&edu=high">cloud</a> cover in the southern hemisphere. Arching cloud patterns show the presence of <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/front.html&edu=high">weather fronts</a>.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of NASA/Apollo 17.</em></small></p>Everything you see around you is made of tiny particles called <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/atom.html&edu=high">atoms</a>. There are many different types of atoms, each with a special combination of <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/proton.html&edu=high">protons</a>, <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/neutron.html&edu=high">neutrons</a> and <a href="/physical_science/physics/atom_particle/electron.html&edu=high">electrons</a>. These different types of atoms are called <a href="/physical_science/element.html&edu=high">elements</a>.<p><small><em> L.Gardiner/Windows to the Universe</em></small></p>In the spring of 2010, the eruption of a <a href="/earth/interior/volcanos_general.html&edu=high">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&edu=high">glaciers</a>. When these <a href="/earth/polar/cryosphere_intro.html&edu=high">ice</a>-covered volcanoes <a href="/earth/interior/eruptions.html&edu=high">erupt</a>, the interplay among molten <a href="/earth/interior/lava.html&edu=high">magma</a>, ice and meltwater can have catastrophic results.<p><small><em>Image Courtesy of Marco Fulle</em></small></p>

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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 does scientific research actually work? How do scientists actually come up with explanations ...Read more

Evolution

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

More about Sciences

Did you know?

Did you know that North America and the Antarctic may have been connected?

Did you know that about 250 million years ago, almost all life in the ocean became extinct?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Riparian
xRiparian : The bank of a river or other body of water; may include the floodplains

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Triggers of Volcanic Eruptions in Oregon's Mount Hood Investigated

A new study has found that a mixing of two different types of magma is the key to the historic eruptions of Mount Hood, Oregon's tallest mountain, and that eruptions often happen in a relatively short...Read more

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The Spring 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist focuses on the oceans, and includes a beautiful poster! Check out the other publications in our online store, as well as classroom materials.

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