Science

Science is a systematic method for investigating the nature and society to obtain verifiable knowledge. This knowledge is based on observation (seeing and recording), experiment, measurement, and mathematical procedures. Results are documented so that others can repeat them.

The Somali word "saynis" comes from the English "science," which in turn derives from the Latin "scientia" meaning "knowledge." The words "aqoonmaal" and "cilmi" are also used. The major divisions are natural science, social science, and formal science (such as mathematics and computer science).

The scientific method

The scientific method typically begins with a question or an unexplained observation. The researcher proposes a hypothesis—a testable answer. An experiment or data collection then follows, and the results are compared against what the hypothesis predicted. If the data contradicts the hypothesis, it must be revised or abandoned. A key feature is that experiments can be repeated and data and methods can be shared with others.

Brief history

Mathematics, astronomy, and medicine have long histories in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Greece. During the Islamic medieval period, scholars such as Ibn al-Haytham, al-Khwarizmi, and Ibn Sina advanced theories of optics, algebra, and medicine, employing experiment and measurement. Between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, Europe underwent a transformation called the scientific revolution, during which mathematical methods were integrated into the study of nature.

Branches

Natural science includes physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and astronomy. Social science includes economics, sociology, psychology, and political science. Mathematics and computer science provide the tools of formal science. Engineering and medicine are sometimes called applied science, since they use knowledge to solve practical problems.

Institutions and publication

Scientific work mainly takes place in universities, research institutes, and company laboratories. Results are published in journals, where papers first undergo peer review—a system in which expert colleagues assess the methods and findings before publication. This system does not guarantee complete accuracy; errors and retractions occur.