Pure Science vs Applied Science

01:49 the function of science... pure science vs applied science 03:55 cause and effect relationships 05:01 pure science 06:38 applied science 19:50 risk benefit analysis 25:51 how does scientific knowledge advance? MANKIND IS INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD AROUND IT. There are many explanations offered for natural phenomena ·       Some are “revealed truths” of a religious nature ·       Some are more philosophical.  e.g. The ancient Greeks saw matter as composed of four elements, air, earth, fire, and water. ·       “Science” is an organized way of investigating the world; it is imagination focused by the reality of experiments on the world around us.   The heart of science is a belief in rules and laws of nature; these rules can be uncovered objectively using the SCIENTIFIC METHOD. ·       The method often begins with an observation. ·       The observation may elicit an hypothesis (understanding) about the underlying rule of nature. ·       Controlled experiments are carried out to elucidate the (mathematical) form of the natural rule. The work is PUBLIC and REPRODUCIBLE. A simple example is the solubility of a solute with temperature (right). ·       Some science is, of necessity, observational—like astronomy   Many experiments may give rise to a LAW of nature.  These are usually excellent approximations to natural phenomena.  An example is the law of mass action or the conservation of mass in ordinary chemical reactions.   A THEORY of science is a MODEL of a portion of the natural world which includes all known laws and experimental results.  The best models, or theories, make predictions about the world which can be experimentally tested to assure the power of the current theory.  A famous example is the discovery of the positron.   ·       In chemistry a famous theory is the Atomic Theory which describes matter as composed of atoms.  These have nuclei of protons and neutrons, and electron filled shells which account for chemical and some physical properties.  This theory works very well and makes the air, earth, fire, and water model seem quite crude. ·       In physics the Theory of Relativity explains the behavior of matter and energy in space-time.  This astonishing “4D” model can be shown to be more correct than any 3D model. In biology the Theory of Evolution explains the nature of speciation and also rationalizes molecular structures which will be examined in Biochemistry.   Science is not revealed truth but is the results of work by trained men and women, like us, working through the scientific method.  Most experimental details are correct, within experimental error, and interpretations are rigorously reviewed and likely to be basically correct.  Future work will modify these interpretations as new information emerges—change is often then REVOLUTIONARY. Science does a great job of explaining the world around us and allowing us to control large parts of it. It does not address issues of morality, politics, or esthetics. Religion, philosophy, the arts or therapy may be needed for guidance in these areas.