What are the 12 branches of science?

The twelve major branches of science encompass the primary disciplines that organize scientific knowledge and research into distinct but interconnected areas of study. These branches provide frameworks for specialized investigation while maintaining connections that enable interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge transfer.

1. Physics studies matter, energy, and their interactions at all scales, from quantum mechanics to cosmology.
2. Chemistry examines atomic and molecular composition, structure, and reactions.
3. Biology investigates living organisms and life processes.
4. Earth Science encompasses geology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental science.
5. Astronomy explores celestial objects and cosmic phenomena beyond Earth.
6. Mathematics provides the logical and computational tools essential for all other sciences.
7. Computer Science develops computational methods and technologies for processing information.
8. Psychology studies human behavior, cognition, and mental processes.
9. Anthropology examines human societies, cultures, and evolution.
10. Medicine applies scientific knowledge to maintain and restore human health.
11. Engineering uses scientific principles to design and build practical solutions to real-world problems.
12. Environmental Science integrates multiple disciplines to study environmental systems and human impacts on the natural world.

These branches increasingly overlap and collaborate as scientific problems become more complex. For example, biochemistry combines biology and chemistry, while biophysics merges biological and physical approaches. Astrobiology integrates astronomy and biology to study potential life beyond Earth. This interconnectedness reflects the reality that natural phenomena don't respect academic boundaries, requiring scientists to work across traditional disciplinary lines to address contemporary challenges like climate change, disease, and technological innovation.