When reading a periodical, browsing through a college course catalog or even listening to the news, the branches of science are easily recognized by the suffix –ology (the study of). There are hundreds of branches of science, all of which branch off from the larger fields of study.

Despite their differences, all branches of science function in much the same way. Using the scientific method, scientists conduct experiments or studies, organizing method along the way. This very specific type of organization is useful in replicating experiments and proving or disproving the initial results.

The main branches of science are:

Medicine: the study of human mental and physical health, focusing on prevention and treatment of disease, illness and injury.

Biology: concentrates on the study of the living. Biologists study the structure, origin, function and growth of organisms from the smallest cell to the largest animal.

Astronomy: the study of stars, planets, comets and galaxies and the activity within and among those objects.

Zoology: these scientists study animals, living and extinct, including: embryology, structure, classification, evolution, habits and habitat.

Physics: the study of matter, motion and energy transfer.

Meteorology: this field of science dates back to the middle ages and concentrates on the study of the atmosphere and its conditions.

Chemistry: studies the property, structure, behavior, reaction and interaction of matter as well as its composition.

Geology: concentrates on the study of the earth and its formation.

While all of these branches of science can stand on their own, they are also broken down into smaller areas of study or combined into different areas of study. For instance, a doctor may have studied biology, medicine and chemistry to earn his degree while a meteorologist may have studied meteorology, geology and astronomy to earn his or her degree. Science is an exciting field full of evolution and change.