In the history of science until the 19th century, natural and humanitarian directions, and scientists until that time gave preference to natural science, that is, the study of objectively existing. In the 19th century, the division of sciences began at universities: the humanities, which are responsible for the study of cultural, social, spiritual, moral and other types of human activity, stand out in a separate area. And everything else falls under the concept of natural science, the name of which comes from the Latin "essence".

The history of the natural sciences began about three thousand years ago, but there were no separate disciplines then - philosophers were engaged in all areas of knowledge. Only at the time of the development of navigation did the division of sciences begin: astronomy also appeared, these areas were necessary during travel. With the development of technology, and stood out in independent sections.

The principle of philosophical naturalism is applied to the study of the natural sciences: this means that the laws of nature must be investigated without mixing them with the laws of man and excluding the action of the human will. Natural science has two main goals: the first is to explore and systematize data about the world, and the second is to use the knowledge gained for practical purposes to conquer nature.

Types of natural sciences

There are basic ones that have existed as independent areas for a long time. This is physics, chemistry, geography, astronomy, geology. But often the areas of their research intersect, forming at the junctions of new sciences - biochemistry, geophysics, geochemistry, astrophysics and others.

Physics is one of the most important natural sciences modern development began with Newton's classical theory of gravity. Faraday, Maxwell and Ohm continued the development of this science, and by the XX in the field of physics, when it became known that Newtonian mechanics is limited and imperfect.

Chemistry began to develop on the basis of alchemy, its modern history begins in 1661 with Boyle's The Skeptical Chemist. Biology appeared only in the 19th century, when the distinction between living and non-living matter was finally established. Geography was formed during the search for new lands and the development of navigation, and geology stood out as a separate area thanks to Leonardo da Vinci.

Natural science is a field human activity aimed at obtaining new information about the world around, living according to objective laws independent of man. In contrast to the natural sciences, the object of study of the humanities is human activity itself, as a subjective process. However, this subjective process is studied by objective methods. It is the latter circumstance that makes it possible to consider the humanities as sciences, and not as art. If the goal of the natural scientific activity of a person is to know the world as it really is, then the goal of human activity in the field of art is to show how the world is subjectively perceived by a person.

Modern natural science cannot be represented as a kind of archive, where a huge amount of facts and various information about the structure of the surrounding world has simply been accumulated “sorted into shelves”. Natural science compares facts, observations and seeks to create its MODEL, in which these facts are collected into a single, CONSISTENT system based on theoretical concepts, provisions and generalizations. Natural science also seeks to expand and refine the picture of the world being created, using this model to plan and carry out new observations and experiments.

Given some distinctive features(requirements) scientific methodology in the field of natural science:

predictiveness - generalized in the form of a theory scientific concepts, models must predict the behavior of objects of the surrounding world, observed in the experiment or directly in the environment

reproducibility - scientific experiments should be carried out in such a way that they can be reproduced by other researchers and in other laboratories

minimal sufficiency - in the process of describing scientific data, it is impossible to create concepts in excess of those that are necessary (the so-called principle of "Occam's razor")

objectivity - when building scientific theory, hypotheses, it is unacceptable to selectively take into account only selected (discarding other data) facts and observations, depending on the personal inclinations, interests, affections and level of training of the scientist.

succession - scientific work should maximally take into account and refer to the background of the issue under study

Natural Sciences is not only getting new information, but also getting information about how to get new information. Being both a goal and a means of human activity, natural science is a self-developing and self-accelerating process.

universe black hole space

System classification of natural sciences

Traditionally, natural sciences include such sciences as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, and other disciplines.

How objective is such a classification, where and according to what principle should the boundaries between different sciences be drawn, can certain sections of natural science be singled out as separate sciences? Obviously, to answer this question, a natural classification of the hierarchy is needed. scientific knowledge, which would not depend on traditions and would be objective. In other words, an objective criterion is needed for separating a particular field of knowledge into a separate science.

Such a classification can be attributed to the systematic classification of sciences - not only natural ones. It is based on the following principle: the object of each science should be an integral, isolated system.

Let us dwell in more detail on the concept of "system".

A system is usually understood as a set of interacting elements, each of which is necessary for this system to perform its specific functions. As we can see, the definition of the system here consists of two parts, and the second part, concerning system elements, is non-trivial and non-obvious. From this definition it follows that not every component system is a system element. So, for example, a signal light on the front panel of a computer will not be its system element, since the removal of the light or failure will not cause software tasks to fail, while the processor, obviously, is such an element.

It follows from our definition that the number of system elements in a system is always finite, while they themselves are discrete and their choice is not random. Individual elements and their properties, when combined into a system, always give rise to a new quality, a system function that cannot be reduced to the quality and functions of its constituent elements.

Systems are natural and artificial, objective and subjective. The natural sciences include sciences that have natural systems as the object of their study, which are always objective. Subjective systems are objects of study in the humanities. Note that some systems, for example, information systems, can be both artificial and objective at the same time. Another example: a computer, as an integral information system, is traditionally subject to study within the framework of computer science. From point of view system classification it would be more accurate to single out as an independent science not computer science in general, but computer informatics, since information systems can be very different.

System elements are themselves systems; we can say that systems of different orders are nested in each other, like nesting dolls.

For example, philosophy has as an object for its study an extremely common system, consisting of only two elements - matter and consciousness. If we talk about the largest of the systems known to us, then such is the Universe, studied as an integral object by the science of cosmology.

The systems of the lowest order known to modern science are considered to be elementary particles. We still know little about internal structure elementary particles, even if we take into account the hypothesis of the existence of quarks, which have not yet been obtained in free form. Nevertheless, not only quarks, but also their properties (qualities) - charge, mass, spin and other characteristics can be attributed to the system elements that make up elementary particles.

The science that studies elementary particles as integral, isolated systems is called elementary particle physics.

Elementary particles are elements of systems of a higher order - atomic nuclei, and even higher - atoms. Accordingly, nuclear and atomic physics stand out.

In turn, atoms combine into molecules. The science that has molecules as its object of study is called chemistry. How can one not recall the well-known definition here: molecules are the smallest particles of a substance that still retain Chemical properties this stuff!

We will continue to move up the hierarchical ladder of the natural sciences. Molecules in living organisms are involved in complex interactions. long sequences and cycles of reactions catalyzed by enzymes. There are, for example, the so-called. glycolytic pathway, Krebs cycle, Calvin cycle, pathways for the synthesis of amino acids, nucleic acids, and many others. All of them are complex, integral self-organizing systems, called biochemical. Accordingly, the science that studies them is called biochemistry.

Biochemical processes and complex molecular structures are combined into even more complex formations - living cells studied by cytology. Cells form tissues that are studied as integral systems by another science - histology. The next level of the hierarchy refers to isolated living complexes formed by tissues - organs. In the complex of biological disciplines, it is not customary to single out a science that could be called "organology", but in medicine such sciences as cardiology are known (studies the heart and cardiovascular system), pulmonology (lungs), urology (organs of the genitourinary system), etc.

And, finally, we have approached science, which has a living organism as an object of its study, as an integral, isolated system (individual). This science is physiology. Distinguish between the physiology of humans, animals, plants and microorganisms.

The systemic classification of the natural sciences is not just some kind of abstract-logical construction, but is a completely pragmatic approach to solving organizational problems.

Imagine the following situation. AT science Council for the defense of dissertations for the degree of Candidate of Biological Sciences, two applicants come. The first studied the process of respiration in rats subjected to high physical exertion. He studied the content of individual metabolites of the Krebs cycle, the features of the functioning of the components of the electron transport chain in mitochondria, and other biochemical features of the respiratory process in rats that were forced to high physical activity.

Another applicant studied basically everything the same, by the same methods, but he was not interested in the effect of physical exertion on breathing, but in the breathing process itself, as such, regardless of physical activity or even on which organism was examined.

The first applicant is informed that his work relates to physiology and therefore is accepted for consideration in this Council with a specialization in “physiology of humans and animals”, and another is denied, citing a discrepancy between the specialization of work (“biochemistry”) and the specialization of the council.

How did it happen that very similar works were assigned to different sciences? In the first case - physical activity is the function of a living organism complete system, and therefore the work belongs to physiology. In the second, the object of study is not the organism as a whole, but a separate biochemical system.

Further climbing the hierarchical ladder of the natural sciences brings us to an interesting nodal point. Living organisms (individuals), as system elements, can be included in different systems higher order. A system consisting of only two elements - an individual (or a population of individuals) and the environment (its biotic and abiotic parts) is considered in ecology.

A system of individuals different types(or populations of different species) is studied by the science of biocenology. Accordingly, the subject (system) of studying this science can include many system elements. The totality of interacting populations of different species occupying the same territory is called biocenoses. Interestingly, biocenoses are not a random collection of populations. They are complex, self-organizing systems that have some features of living organisms. Like individuals, biocenoses are born, develop (the so-called succession), grow old and die. They are discrete: between different biocenoses it is very often possible to observe a pronounced boundary, while intermediate forms are absent or unstable. Biocenoses are usually named according to the dominant vegetable species- if it is, for example, an oak, then the biocenosis is called an oak forest, if it is a feather grass, then it will have the name "feather grass steppe".

A system of a higher order than the biocenosis is the biosphere of the Earth. In Russian, however, the word "biospherology" is absent; Instead, the term "the doctrine of the biosphere" is used. The priority of creating this science belongs to the outstanding Russian scientist, academician V. I. Vernadsky (1863-1945), who first drew attention to the fact that the biosphere is not just the sum of all the Earth's biocenoses, but a complex, self-organizing object, qualitatively different from any other known systems.

In turn, the biosphere is only one of the systemic elements of our planet. Unfortunately, there is no science that would describe the behavior of the Earth as an integral, self-organizing system. objective reasons. Modern natural science has accumulated too little information about how various planetary shells and levels of organization interact with each other - the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, mantle, core, etc.

Traditionally, it is not customary to single out our knowledge about the formation, structure and processes that determine the behavior of the solar system as a whole as a separate science. Objectively, however, such a field of knowledge exists and is considered within the framework of a complex of astronomical disciplines. The same applies to our galaxy.

And, finally, the largest of the natural systems known to us is the Universe, which, as we have already said, is studied by the science of cosmology.

So, we have considered a whole string of natural sciences and their corresponding systems. But where are biology and physics familiar to us among them? Apparently, within the framework of an objective, systemic classification, we cannot call either one or the other discipline sciences. There is no separate isolated system (or at least a class of systems) in relation to which it would be possible to formulate the task of physics (or biology) as a science that studies this system: the principle "one science - one system" ceases to work. Biology and physics fall into many other sciences. However, the traditional, subjective, classification also has full right into existence: it is convenient and will be used in natural science for a long time to come.

With all the variety of systems - large and small, natural and artificial, objective and subjective, there are some of their characteristics that are characteristic of all systems in general. They are called system-wide. There is also a science that studies them - systemology. The achievements of systemology help scientists working in other fields of knowledge to build hypotheses and draw correct scientific conclusions. For example, among researchers of gerontologists (gerontology is the science of aging), there is sometimes a point of view that the aging of animals and humans is determined by a certain aging gene, damaging which, one can ensure unlimited long-term youth. However, the findings of systemology tell us something else. All complex self-developing systems that are limited in spatial growth grow old, so the causes of human and animal aging lie much deeper. At the same time, the general conclusions of systemology have only methodological significance. They cannot replace specific knowledge. In the case under consideration, it is quite possible to assume that some genes can indeed accelerate aging, but by deleting these genes, or eliminating some other, specific causes of aging, we must understand that we will encounter other causes and can only postpone old age.

1. Natural sciences - concept and subject of study 3

2. History of the birth of natural science 3

3. Patterns and features of the development of natural science 6

4. Classification of natural sciences 7

5. Basic methods of natural science 9

Literature

Arutsev A.A., Ermolaev B.V., et al. Concepts modern natural science. - M., 1999.

Matyukhin S.I., Frolenkov K.Yu. Concepts of modern natural science. - Orlov, 1999.

1. Natural sciences - the concept and subject of study

Natural science is the natural sciences or the totality of sciences about nature. On the present stage development of all sciences are divided into public or humanitarian, and natural.

The subject of study of social sciences is human society and the laws of its development, as well as phenomena, one way or another connected with human activity.

The subject of study of the natural sciences is the Nature surrounding us, that is, various types of matter, the forms and laws of their movement, their connections. The system of natural sciences, taken in their mutual connection as a whole, forms the basis of one of the main areas of scientific knowledge about the World - natural science.

The immediate or immediate goal of natural science is knowledge of objective Truth , entity search phenomena of nature, the formulation of the main laws of nature which makes it possible to foresee or create new phenomena. The ultimate goal of natural science is practical use of learned laws , forces and substances of Nature (production-applied side of knowledge).

Natural science, therefore, is the natural scientific foundation of the philosophical understanding of Nature and Man as part of this Nature, theoretical basis industry and Agriculture, technology and medicine.

1. 2. History of the birth of natural science

At the origins modern science are the ancient Greeks. More ancient knowledge has come down to us only in the form of fragments. They are unsystematic, naive and alien to us in spirit. The Greeks were the first to invent proof. Neither in Egypt, nor in Mesopotamia, nor in China such a concept existed. Maybe because all these civilizations were based on tyranny and unconditional submission to authorities. In such circumstances, even the very idea of ​​reasonable evidence seems seditious.

In Athens for the first time ever world history a republic emerged. Despite the fact that it flourished in the labor of slaves, in Ancient Greece conditions were created under which a free exchange of opinions became possible, and this led to an unprecedented flourishing of the sciences.

In the Middle Ages, the need for a rational knowledge of nature completely died out along with attempts to comprehend the destiny of man within the framework of various religious denominations. For almost ten centuries, religion has given exhaustive answers to all questions of life that were not subject to criticism or even discussion.

The writings of Euclid, the author of the geometry that is now studied in all schools, were translated into Latin language and became known in Europe only in the XII century. However, at that time they were perceived simply as a set of witty rules that had to be memorized - they were so alien to the spirit of medieval Europe, accustomed to believe, and not to seek the roots of Truth. But the volume of knowledge grew rapidly, and they could no longer be reconciled with the direction of thought of medieval minds.

The end of the Middle Ages is usually associated with the discovery of America in 1492. Some point even more the exact date: December 13, 1250 - the day when King Frederick II of Hohenstaufen died in the castle of Florentino near Lucera. Of course, such dates should not be taken seriously, but several such dates taken together create an undoubted feeling of the authenticity of the turning point that occurred in the minds of people at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. In history, this period is called the Renaissance. obeying internal laws development and for no apparent reason, Europe in just two centuries revived the rudiments of ancient knowledge, which had been forgotten for more than ten centuries and later received the name scientific.

During the Renaissance in the minds of people there was a turn from the desire to realize their place in the world to attempts to understand its rational structure without reference to miracles and divine revelation. At first, the coup was aristocratic in nature, but the invention of printing spread it to all strata of society. The essence of the turning point is the liberation from the pressure of authorities and the transition from the medieval faith to the knowledge of modern times.

The Church opposed the new trends in every possible way, she strictly judged philosophers who recognized that there are things true from the point of view of philosophy, but false from the point of view of faith. But the collapsed dam of faith could no longer be repaired, and the liberated spirit began to look for new ways for its development.

Already in the 13th century, the English philosopher Roger Bacon wrote: “There is a natural and imperfect experience that is not aware of its power and is not aware of its methods: it is used by artisans, not scientists ... Above all speculative knowledge and arts is the ability to produce experiments, and this science is the queen of sciences...

Philosophers must know that their science is powerless unless they apply powerful mathematics to it... It is impossible to distinguish sophism from proof without verifying the conclusion by experience and application.”

In 1440, Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) wrote the book On Scientific Ignorance, in which he insisted that all knowledge about nature must be written down in numbers, and all experiments on it should be carried out with scales in hand.

However, the adoption of new views was slow. Arabic numerals, for example, came into general use already in the 10th century, but even in the 16th century, calculations were carried out everywhere not on paper, but with the help of special tokens, even less perfect than clerical accounts.

It is customary to begin the real history of natural science with Galileo and Newton. According to the same tradition, Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) is considered the founder of experimental physics, and Isaac Newton (1643-1727) the founder of theoretical physics. Of course, in their time (see historical reference) there was no such division of the single science of physics into two parts, there was not even physics itself - it was called natural philosophy. But such a division has a deep meaning: it helps to understand the features scientific method and, in essence, is equivalent to the division of science into experience and mathematics, which was formulated by Roger Bacon.

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What is natural sciences? Natural science methods

AT modern world there are thousands of different sciences, educational disciplines, sections and other structural units. However special place among all occupy those that relate directly to a person and everything that surrounds him. This is the system of natural sciences. Of course, all other disciplines are also important. But it is this group that has the most ancient origin, and therefore of particular importance in people's lives.

The answer to this question is simple. These are disciplines that study a person, his health, as well as the entire environment: soil, atmosphere, the Earth as a whole, space, nature, substances that make up all living and non-living bodies, their transformations.

The study of natural sciences has been interesting to people since antiquity. How to get rid of the disease, what the body consists of from the inside, why the stars shine and what they are, as well as millions of similar questions - this is what interested humanity from the very beginning of its occurrence. The disciplines under consideration give answers to them.

Therefore, to the question of what the natural sciences are, the answer is unequivocal. These are disciplines that study nature and all living things.

There are several main groups that relate to the natural sciences:

1. Chemical (analytical, organic, inorganic, quantum, physico-colloid chemistry, chemistry of organoelement compounds).
2. Biological (anatomy, physiology, botany, zoology, genetics).
3. Physical (physics, physical chemistry, physical and mathematical sciences).
4. Earth sciences (astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, astrochemistry, space biology).
5. Earth shell sciences (hydrology, meteorology, mineralogy, paleontology, physical geography, geology).

Only the basic natural sciences are represented here. However, it should be understood that each of them has its own subsections, branches, subsidiary and child disciplines. And if you combine all of them into a single whole, then you can get a whole natural complex of sciences, numbering in hundreds of units.

At the same time, it can be divided into three large groups of disciplines:

Interaction of disciplines among themselves

Of course, no discipline can exist in isolation from others. All of them are in close harmonious interaction with each other, forming a single complex. So, for example, knowledge of biology would be impossible without the use of technical means constructed on the basis of physics.

At the same time, transformations inside living beings cannot be studied without knowledge of chemistry, because each organism is a whole factory of reactions occurring at an enormous speed.

The relationship of the natural sciences has always been traced. Historically, the development of one of them entailed intensive growth and accumulation of knowledge in the other. As soon as new lands began to be developed, islands, land areas were discovered, both zoology and botany immediately developed. After all, new habitats were inhabited (albeit not all) by previously unknown representatives of the human race. Thus, geography and biology were closely linked together.

If we talk about astronomy and related disciplines, it is impossible not to note the fact that they developed thanks to scientific discoveries in physics, chemistry. The design of the telescope largely determined the success in this area.

There are many such examples. All of them illustrate the close relationship between all natural disciplines that make up one huge group. Below we consider the methods of natural sciences.

Before dwelling on the research methods used by the sciences in question, it is necessary to identify the objects of their study. They are:

Each of these objects has its own characteristics, and for their study it is necessary to select one or another method. Among these, as a rule, the following are distinguished:

1. Observation is one of the simplest, most effective and ancient ways to know the world.
2. Experiment is the basis of the chemical sciences, most of the biological and physical disciplines. Allows you to get the result and on it to draw a conclusion about the theoretical basis.
3. Comparison - this method is based on the use of historically accumulated knowledge on a particular issue and comparing them with the results obtained. Based on the analysis, a conclusion is made about the innovation, quality and other characteristics of the object.
4. Analysis. This method may include mathematical modeling, systematics, generalization, effectiveness. Most often it is final after a number of other studies.
5. Measurement - used to assess the parameters of specific objects of living and inanimate nature.

There are also the latest modern methods research that is used in physics, chemistry, medicine, biochemistry and genetic engineering, genetics and other important sciences. This is:

Of course, this is far from full list. There are many different devices for working in every field of scientific knowledge. Everything is needed individual approach, which means that their own set of methods is being formed, equipment and equipment are being selected.

Modern problems of natural science

The main problems of the natural sciences at the present stage of development are the search for new information, the accumulation of a theoretical knowledge base in a more in-depth, rich format. Before the beginning of the 20th century main problem of the disciplines under consideration was opposition to the humanities.

However, today this obstacle is no longer relevant, since humanity has realized the importance of interdisciplinary integration in mastering knowledge about man, nature, space and other things.

Now the disciplines of the natural science cycle face a different task: how to preserve nature and protect it from the influence of man himself and his economic activity? And here are the most pressing issues:

• acid rain;
• the greenhouse effect;
• destruction of the ozone layer;
• extinction of plant and animal species;
• air pollution and others.

In most cases, in response to the question "What is the natural sciences?" One word comes to mind: biology. This is the opinion of most people who are not connected with science. And this is absolutely correct opinion. After all, what, if not biology, directly and very closely links nature and man?

All disciplines that make up this science are aimed at studying living systems, their interaction with each other and with environment. Therefore, it is quite normal that biology is considered the founder of the natural sciences.

In addition, it is also one of the oldest. After all, people's interest in themselves, their bodies, surrounding plants and animals originated with man. Genetics, medicine, botany, zoology, and anatomy are closely related to the same discipline. All these branches make up biology as a whole. They also give us a complete picture of nature, and of man, and of all living systems and organisms.

These fundamental sciences in the development of knowledge about bodies, substances and natural phenomena are no less ancient than biology. They also developed along with the development of man, his formation in the social environment. The main tasks of these sciences are the study of all bodies of inanimate and living nature from the point of view of the processes occurring in them, their connection with the environment.

So, physics considers natural phenomena, mechanisms and causes of their occurrence. Chemistry is based on the knowledge of substances and their mutual transformations into each other.

That's what the natural sciences are.

And finally, we list the disciplines that allow you to learn more about our home, whose name is Earth. These include:

In total there are about 35 different disciplines. Together they study our planet, its structure, properties and features, which is so necessary for the life of people and the development of the economy.

Natural Sciences. What sciences are called natural?

Natural sciences are called sciences about nature, that is, about nature. Inanimate nature and its development are studied by astronomy, geology, physics, chemistry, meteorology, volcanology, seismology, oceanology, geophysics, astrophysics, geochemistry, and a number of others. Live nature studied by biological sciences (paleontology studies extinct organisms, taxonomy - species and their classification, arachnology - spiders, ornithology - birds, entomology - insects).

The natural sciences include those that study nature and all its manifestations, that is, it is physics, biology, chemistry, geography, ecology, astronomy.

Opposite to the natural sciences will be the humanities, which study a person, his activity, consciousness and manifestation in various areas. These include history, psychology and others.

Natural is a word that, by itself and by its presence, tells us that something must happen in nature. Well, science, of course, is the field of activity that, all this business, thoroughly and scrupulously, studies and reveals general, but at the same time fundamental, patterns.

In the modern world, there are thousands of different sciences, educational disciplines, sections and other structural links. However, a special place among all is occupied by those that relate directly to a person and everything that surrounds him. This is the system of natural sciences. Of course, all other disciplines are also important. But it is this group that has the most ancient origin, and therefore of particular importance in people's lives.

What is natural sciences?

The answer to this question is simple. These are disciplines that study a person, his health, as well as the entire environment: soil, in general, space, nature, substances that make up all living and non-living bodies, their transformations.

The study of natural sciences has been interesting to people since antiquity. How to get rid of the disease, what the body consists of from the inside, and what they are, as well as millions of similar questions - this is what interested humanity from the very beginning of its origin. The disciplines under consideration give answers to them.

Therefore, to the question of what the natural sciences are, the answer is unequivocal. These are disciplines that study nature and all living things.

Classification

There are several main groups that relate to the natural sciences:

1. Chemical (analytical, organic, inorganic, quantum, organoelement compounds).
2. Biological (anatomy, physiology, botany, zoology, genetics).
3. chemistry, physical and mathematical sciences).
4. Earth sciences (astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, astrochemistry,
5. Earth shell sciences (hydrology, meteorology, mineralogy, paleontology, physical geography, geology).

Only the basic natural sciences are represented here. However, it should be understood that each of them has its own subsections, branches, subsidiary and child disciplines. And if you combine all of them into a single whole, then you can get a whole natural complex of sciences, numbering in hundreds of units.

At the same time, it can be divided into three large groups of disciplines:

• applied;
• descriptive;
• accurate.

Interaction of disciplines among themselves

Of course, no discipline can exist in isolation from others. All of them are in close harmonious interaction with each other, forming a single complex. So, for example, knowledge of biology would be impossible without the use of technical means designed on the basis of physics.

At the same time, transformations inside living beings cannot be studied without knowledge of chemistry, because each organism is a whole factory of reactions occurring at an enormous speed.

The relationship of the natural sciences has always been traced. Historically, the development of one of them entailed intensive growth and accumulation of knowledge in the other. As soon as new lands began to be developed, islands, land areas were discovered, both zoology and botany immediately developed. After all, new habitats were inhabited (albeit not all) by previously unknown representatives of the human race. Thus, geography and biology were closely linked together.

If we talk about astronomy and related disciplines, it is impossible not to note the fact that they developed thanks to scientific discoveries in the field of physics and chemistry. The design of the telescope largely determined the success in this area.

There are many such examples. All of them illustrate the close relationship between all natural disciplines that make up one huge group. Below we consider the methods of natural sciences.

Research methods

Before dwelling on the research methods used by the sciences in question, it is necessary to identify the objects of their study. They are:

• Human;
• a life;
• Universe;
• matter;
• Earth.

Each of these objects has its own characteristics, and for their study it is necessary to select one or another method. Among these, as a rule, the following are distinguished:

1. Observation is one of the simplest, most effective and ancient ways to know the world.
2. Experiment is the basis of the chemical sciences, most of the biological and physical disciplines. Allows you to get the result and on it to draw a conclusion about
3. Comparison - this method is based on the use of historically accumulated knowledge on a particular issue and comparing them with the results obtained. Based on the analysis, a conclusion is made about the innovation, quality and other characteristics of the object.
4. Analysis. This method may include mathematical modeling, systematics, generalization, effectiveness. Most often it is final after a number of other studies.
5. Measurement - used to assess the parameters of specific objects of living and inanimate nature.

There are also the latest, modern research methods that are used in physics, chemistry, medicine, biochemistry and genetic engineering, genetics and other important sciences. This is:

• electron and laser microscopy;
• centrifugation;
• biochemical analysis;
• x-ray structural analysis;
• spectrometry;
• chromatography and others.

Of course, this is not a complete list. There are many different devices for working in every field of scientific knowledge. Everything requires an individual approach, which means that a set of methods is formed, equipment and equipment are selected.

Modern problems of natural science

The main problems of the natural sciences at the present stage of development are the search for new information, the accumulation of a theoretical knowledge base in a more in-depth, rich format. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the main problem of the disciplines under consideration was opposition to the humanities.

However, today this obstacle is no longer relevant, since humanity has realized the importance of interdisciplinary integration in mastering knowledge about man, nature, space and other things.

Now the disciplines of the natural science cycle face a different task: how to preserve nature and protect it from the impact of man himself and his economic activity? And here are the most pressing issues:

• acid rain;
• the greenhouse effect;
• destruction of the ozone layer;
• extinction of plant and animal species;
• air pollution and others.

Biology

In most cases, in response to the question "What is the natural sciences?" One word comes to mind: biology. This is the opinion of most people who are not connected with science. And this is absolutely correct opinion. After all, what, if not biology, directly and very closely links nature and man?

All disciplines that make up this science are aimed at studying living systems, their interaction with each other and with the environment. Therefore, it is quite normal that biology is considered the founder of the natural sciences.

In addition, it is also one of the oldest. After all, to himself, his body, the surrounding plants and animals was born together with man. Genetics, medicine, botany, zoology, and anatomy are closely related to the same discipline. All these branches make up biology as a whole. They also give us a complete picture of nature, and of man, and of all living systems and organisms.

Chemistry and physics

These fundamental sciences in the development of knowledge about bodies, substances and natural phenomena are no less ancient than biology. They also developed along with the development of man, his formation in the social environment. The main tasks of these sciences are the study of all bodies of inanimate and living nature from the point of view of the processes occurring in them, their connection with the environment.

So, physics considers natural phenomena, mechanisms and causes of their occurrence. Chemistry is based on the knowledge of substances and their mutual transformations into each other.

That's what the natural sciences are.

Earth sciences

And finally, we list the disciplines that allow you to learn more about our home, whose name is Earth. These include:

• geology;
• meteorology;
• climatology;
• geodesy;
• hydrochemistry;
• cartography;
• mineralogy;
• seismology;
• soil science;
• paleontology;
• tectonics and others.

In total there are about 35 different disciplines. Together they study our planet, its structure, properties and features, which is so necessary for the life of people and the development of the economy.