Branches...

[jimkopelli]

Which branch of science do you prefer? I like physics, because everything is physics at some level, but specifically acoustics and electromagnetic stuff.

[Avengardh]

Well what? Lol.

Physics, would like to get into Astro or Quantum.

~*Aven*~

[jimkopelli]

Read any of the books Stephen Hawking has put out? Universe in a Nutshell, or the others?

[Sam172]

Cheistry without a doubt :D

[Avengardh]

Read any of the books Stephen Hawking has put out? Universe in a Nutshell, or the others?

Attempted, UN (read like...10pgs), still meaning to finish that one and Greene's too, I am just not much of a reading-fan for some reason....I can't do it anymore, I get too restless, so I prefer to take classes, hands-on and visuals are best for me.

~*Aven*~

[jimkopelli]

I don't think there are too many hands on for quantum phys... visuals for astro should be no problem, though.

[Avengardh]

I don't think there are too many hands on for quantum phys... visuals for astro should be no problem, though.

Yeah...I should have said forcing myself, as in, my grade depends on it...otherwise I never finish ^^

~*Aven*~

[NGene]

I couldn't decide if I should vote for physics or chemistry... They're both interesting, especially organic and physical chemistry and quantum physics. I ended up voting physics because chemistry is physics. :D

I currently study biochemistry but I'm not that into it, too much biology for my taste. I'm more interested in the fundamental nature of energy and matter, which made me first get interested in the structure of an atom, then organic chemistry, then the chemical reactions and their dynamics, then physical chemistry, then elementary particle physics, then quantum physics.

[jimkopelli]

I ended up voting physics because chemistry is physics. :D

Thank you, a lot of people don't get that. happppy

[Vagabond]

I was in a dilemma between chemistry and biology.... voted biology eventually.

[Laeskis]

Physics is good when you throw out Newtonian Mechanics (that stuff is decent but is only a rough approximation of how things work, and only really apply to Earth.)

[s]

Touch call. I enjoy reading about Quantum Theory and I love biology, too. I have to admit a little secret, that anytime there is basic math involved (adding and substraction) I panic. The concepts I get, but the details kill my grades. I have aced the trig sections of standardized tests, but I have never passed the addition!

[Melody]

i feel any model out today is a rough approximation

even general relativity and superstring theory

even though i am excellent at mathematics

i do not trust them because i am aware they exist only in our heads

also remember that einstein quote

something like

'as much as it applies to the something something it is not exact,
and as far as it is exact is is not something something'

[int]

i feel any model out today is a rough approximation



How so?

I voted physics, but astronomy, math, and physics have a lot of my spare attention lately.

[file cabinet]

I find the sciences intriguing but I haven't had enough happen in my life to involve any of them serious enough.. :( oh well.

[NGene]

Physics is good when you throw out Newtonian Mechanics (that stuff is decent but is only a rough approximation of how things work, and only really apply to Earth.)
And it's boooring! I hated physics in junior high, only because it was all Newtonian Mechanics. Yuck. :P

However, I disagree with the approximation thing. Sure, it's just a rough approximation, but like Melody already said, every model is a rough approximation. And, although Newtonian Mechanics is boring, it's the most useful for everyday calculations where the speeds are well below c and the scale is bigger than the atomic scale.

[HairlessBluetick]

Biology for me.

[EternalCynic]

Not listed. I love geology, for whatever reason.

[cloakable]

I like all sciences, but put Physics down as my vote.

[Claverhouse]

Science leaves me cold: but I have a sneaking tendresse for geology, well, the bits about formation of land masses and rocks generally.

So put other.



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Laeskis]

Physics is good when you throw out Newtonian Mechanics (that stuff is decent but is only a rough approximation of how things work, and only really apply to Earth.)
And it's boooring! I hated physics in junior high, only because it was all Newtonian Mechanics. Yuck. :P

However, I disagree with the approximation thing. Sure, it's just a rough approximation, but like Melody already said, every model is a rough approximation. And, although Newtonian Mechanics is boring, it's the most useful for everyday calculations where the speeds are well below c and the scale is bigger than the atomic scale.

No matter how much practice you get, no matter how you apply it, Newtonian Mechanics will only yield a rough approximation...never anything else.
But, when those Mathematical types get it straight, and we get good and comfortable with the quantum, it will explain everything...in universal detail.
Question is, will we ever get good enough...it's all so very precise.

[NGene]

It's funny geology seems so popular here... :huh:

Why is it so damn interesting?

[s]

Astronomy was one of the best classes I took in college. Marine Biology and anatomy were some of the best I took in high school.

[Boozer]

Physics. But thats too much math for me to do for a living (I love those science in a nutshell books like Elegant Universe)

I'm a computer scientist but I can understand keeping off the list as it's not really a fundamental science. But I sure find it interesting (when allowed to jump around from topic to topic)

[Dunearhp]

Hey, what about Mathematics? Or are we voting on the Nobel prize.

[Aryan]

PHYSICS
becoz I want to grow hairs like EInstein


Ahh.. the beauty of Quatum mechanics and Level 4 universes, its like writing poetry
Only difference is to write one line you have to do 6 months of thinking.
But still I love it

[boakesey]

Had to be Chemistry...

... As I tell my pupils:

Physics defines the rules by which Chemistry works.

Biology is simply large-scale (bio)chemistry.

Geography (physical) and Geology are large-scale applications of Physical Chemistry.

etc. etc.....

I could go on (& on & on...) but I think you've got the message!

Boakesey

[cloakable]

Physics defines the rules by which Chemistry works.

Physics defines the rules by which *everything* works.

[boakesey]

"Chemistry" = "Everything"

LOL

Boakesey

[cloakable]

"Chemistry" = "Everything"

LOL

Boakesey

Okay, how does Chemistry relate to C? :D

[jimkopelli]

C as in"c=speed of light", right? It doesn't.

[boakesey]

[quote="cloakable
Okay, how does Chemistry relate to C? :D[/quote]

Simple:

Once alchemy evolved into "proper" science and the importance of "c" bevame apparent, we "chemists" changed our name to reflect our reverence for one of The fundamental constants.....

;)

[INTrPosr]

I find it interesting that most of you have a love for pure science. I enjoy the social sciences much more.

[Boozer]

I awlays found psychology and sociology interesting in school, though I've never read any of it in my free time like I have with physics and comp sci. Though I'm not sure where comp. sci. fits into to the hard/soft science spectrum. Maybe that's more mathematics, ehh whatever.

[Dunearhp]

Okay, how does Chemistry relate to C? :D

C is for Carbon.

I'm just another carbon based unit.

[Melody]

"Chemistry" = "Everything"

LOL

Boakesey

Okay, how does Chemistry relate to C? :D

you go like

position newposition( electron )
{
...
}

[Melody]

i feel any model out today is a rough approximation



How so?

speaking in a pretty general sense

the simplest way i can explain it is

~~
if a model we have is not a poor or rough approximation then

that model is an exact approximation and

we know everything about the universe
~~

im pretty sure the last point is false

[jimkopelli]

What about the chance that it's a pretty good approximation, with only a few gaps, like not being able to keep socks that match?

[int]

What about the chance that it's a pretty good approximation, with only a few gaps, like not being able to keep socks that match?

The great sock-eater (often eluded to when folding laudry) *is* the missing factor. Brilliant.

:)

[Melody]

then i believe such a model is incorrect

i understand what u mean;

that it would not really be 'rough'
but exact in most cases
and not exact in a few cases

however, i believe such a model cannot exist

if it cannot take everything into account, then it is rough

this is my gut feeling 'n i dun think i can justify it too well atm

i found a book in a nearby library that pointed out that general relativity did not take something into account and einstein recognized it as a trouble

ima havfta look for that book again it was interesting because it seemed to meld quantum physics and general relativity via fractal geometry (all three of which i am interested in)

and it used a particular value related to the properties of scale

[t]

add another physics to the list. i focus in physical environmental science & i'm *trying* to eventually pursue a career in atmospheric science & meteorology.

[Nindy]

Dilemma between physics and biology - voted biology eventually

[indie]

Something more specific . . .

Astrophysics is fascinating for its theories, likewise, quantum physics is great for theory. On a practical level, however, earth science is my favorite.

[Napoleon]

For me that would be sportsience

[jyakulis]

definitely physics
biology i never had in college so i can't judge
chemistry is ok and I do well in it but it irriatates me. Just so many rules it seems....it's not universal enough for me, I dunno hard for me to explain. For example not sure what topics bothered me the most because it's been awhile since I had a chem class. But just in general, my book would say in this case this will happen. BUT then list 15 chemicals that it didn't work for. WTF chemistry what's your deal!!?! Ohh and then the professor always have to ask the weird exception problems on the test. I understand they do it to separate A students from C students, but it just all seems like a memory game to me.

[Dman]

Attempted, UN (read like...10pgs), still meaning to finish that one and Greene's too, I am just not much of a reading-fan for some reason....I can't do it anymore, I get too restless, so I prefer to take classes, hands-on and visuals are best for me.

~*Aven*~

Try Hawking's "A Brief History of Time", it predates "Nutshell" by a couple of decades, but is a much easier read & is still an excellent way to introduce the layman to quantum & astro physics.

[Wolfchylde]

Genetics here, specifically viral and evolutionary genetics and the intersection of the two subfields.

[Boneca]

Ecology is my great (current) interest, so I guess that'd be mostly biology.

[bookworm]

I voted Other: math and computer science

[wezl]

Read any of the books Stephen Hawking has put out? Universe in a Nutshell, or the others?

Yuck. After "A Brief History ..." I decided he is so full of himself I don't care what he says.
I like physics, esp. field theories, and I am fascinated by stellar structure. I don't really like the math though so I got 10 hrs toward a MS degree when I just walked away. They said "integrate over all space" to me once too often.
Also like AI, want to make computers cognizant and intelligent (see my icon).
Some biology, like cell metab and RNA making proteins and all is also too cool.

[Swift]

I voted biology, but I only like human biology. No animals for me.

[Elro]

Physics, as a subject, rules. On the other hand, I hate Chemistry. I take it now in college, and it's really repetitive, not to mention corrupt. After all, chemistry/alchemy was developed to try to derive gold from common materials. I'm sure they had pure intentions...

Think of the inflation that would have resulted if they had succeeded, though!

[wezl]

..., not to mention corrupt. After all, chemistry/alchemy was developed to try to derive gold from common materials. I'm sure they had pure intentions...

How do you feel about guns, guns, and more guns? Physics started out as the study of cannons. Galileo discovered his concepts of kinetic/potential energy and all objects falling at same rate from studying the path of cannon balls.
The idea of the equivalence of kinetic and heat energy came from boring out the barrels of cannon. It goes on and on. The pursuit of knowledge has its origins in self-serving, sometimes destructive ends. Don't blame the subject, only people are blame-worthy.

[MaroonBells]

Hi,

I like all social sciences and anything focused on social structures/ systems and dynamics. If you can use biology to explain social phenomena, then I like biology, if you can use chemistry, then I like chemistry. I have a MA in Political Science and Sociology. I would like to start a business organizing interdisciplinary conferences for scientists focusing on "the rules of social relations and social systems".

Cheers

[coffeezombie]

I like biology in the sense of neurobiology, but I don't know much about it. I'm not really a hard science guy.

[MaroonBells]

Hi CZ,
There is a neuroscientist named Antonio Damasio who explores the role and location of feelings and emotions in the human brain and is seeking a broad platform for investigation of social relations across neuroscience/ anthropology and sociology. Very interesting stuff. I just got "Looking for Spinoza", his latest book.

[YardGnome]

Sorry if anyone has posted this already as I have not read the rest of this thread (but probably will...) I enjoy Chaos theory the most because it encompasses many different fields of science and it is so interesting seeing order in chaos. Fractal geometry specifically I find extremely fascinating. How can something so simple create something so intricate and complex?

There are just some things that particle physics / quantum physics can not explain (group behaviors, things like that). Chaos theory attempts to answer these questions. It's just so fascinating...

edit: Ok cool... Nobody else mentioned Chaos...

[kuranes]

Touch call. I enjoy reading about Quantum Theory and I love biology, too. I have to admit a little secret, that anytime there is basic math involved (adding and substraction) I panic. The concepts I get, but the details kill my grades. I have aced the trig sections of standardized tests, but I have never passed the addition!


Like the Beatles, you passed.

Did you hear about the constipated mathemetician? She worked it out with a pencil. She finally came to the conclusion that the reason shit is tapered off at the end is so that your butt cheeks won't slam shut when its done.