Science, Technology, and Global Knowledge
(the spread of information with the "wiring" of the world has improved communications between people and accelerated the pace of scientific discoveries as well as greater efficiency in the exchange of technical knowledge and applications)
Science and technology advance when people can discuss discoveries and insights with each other at conferences, in the pages of a journal, on the phone, or by e-mail and with websites
Science is neither a completed book nor a set of temporary beliefs. In fact, it is a complex web of ideas, facts, philosophical concepts, history, and exchanges of concepts.
Many of the central principles or knowledge of science which came to us decades or even centuries ago, have been subjected to stringent examinations and testing for so long that the chances that they will turn out to be wrong have been diminished; however, the frontiers of scientific research may still have many changes and possibilities.
Any currently accepted ideas of some scientific or technical concepts may continue as they are or be challenged, and if that happens, it will be the result of discussions involving many scientists from all over the world.
Our varied information systems depend on scientific information about electromagnetic waves obtained over a century ago and on the understandings of new kinds of materials that may be only a few years old and so, new developments usually rest solidly on the old.
Today, scientists specialize, both by field and by the kind of work they do
Some scientists study stars, others research cells, and yet others study atoms or quarks. Within each of these categories, there are scientists who spend their time imagining what the universe might be like and converting their visions into hard mathematical predictions of the outcomes of experiments and they are considered to be theoreticians.
Other scientists and technicians actually do experiments to see which of the many possible universes that exist in the dreams of theoreticians can actually become practical applications. These are the experimental or observational scientists.
The balance between what scientists experimentally know because they have seen it (measured it, detected it, or tested it), and what they theoretically know because they think that's how it might be (must be, ought to be, or would be wonderful if it were), is intrinsic to the advances of science.
One of the objectives of this Get Words site is to present useful information (definitions) about science and technology in topical groups for a greater understanding of the various aspects of the scientific fields of study as shown in this Index of Scientific Topics and this Index of Various Topics.
It should be obvious that scientists still have a great deal to accomplish; especially, when there are very rare occasions when various cancers can be cured, the lack of real understanding about how to prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease or how to cure them, and the lack of knowledge about many other areas of science and technology which keep cropping up.
There are many challenges for all of us to learn as much as we can about many aspects of science and technology, not only to expand our comprehension but also to find genuine solutions to global problems that can benefit everyone.
Also see this Index or Menu for a variety of other topics.