Which Science Is Best? Vote Now!
UPDATE:
In the final round of Popular Mechanics’ first annual Battle of the Ologies, it came down to two fascinating fields of science: epidemiology (the study of infectious diseases and other health problems in the community) and apiology (the study of honey bees). Now, we have a winner.
Drumroll, please...
Epidemiology takes the championship title!
For obvious reasons, there’s a heightened interest in epidemiology. We’re in the midst of a global pandemic, and it feels like life has ground to a halt. Here at Popular Mechanics, we’ve been inspired by the incredible scientists—epidemiologists, included—who are working hard to unravel the complexities of the novel coronavirus, create new methods of testing and, ultimately, develop a vaccine. Through science, we will overcome this.
From astronauts to distillers to virtual barbers to particle physicists, we’ve watched the world come together to offer solutions to the challenges raised by the spread of this disease. We may be six feet apart, but we’re in this together.
The spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought the sports world to a halt, with all major leagues either postponing or outright canceling their seasons in efforts to promote social distancing. In the grand scheme of things, of course, the lack of live sporting events to attend or watch on TV is the least of society’s concerns at the moment.
But sports have always served as a welcome and unifying distraction from the ills of the world, and it sure would be nice to tune in to March Madness this week to lift our spirits. (And, okay, engage in some friendly smack talk with friends over who has the better bracket.)
That’s why, despite the NCAA rightly nixing its basketball tournament to make sure athletes and fans stay safe, we’ve decided to create a bracket of our own—a small consolation that might put a smile on your face right now.
So we proudly present the Battle of the Ologies, wherein we pit 64 fields of study against each other to prove which concentration is the coolest of them all, from agrostology (the study of grasses) to astrobiology (the study of the origins of life) to enigmatology (the study of puzzles). Spoiler: They’re all pretty badass.
We’ve divided this assortment of sciences into four regions: Living Things; Nature and the Universe; Mind, Body and Behavior; and Oddities and Fascinations.
Now it’s your turn to choose the fate of these fascinating fields of study. Every couple of days, we’ll ask you to vote for your favorite.
First, you’ll vote on the round of 64. We’ll tally the votes and post the next round on Friday, March 20, followed by the Sweet 16 on Wednesday, March 25, and the Elite 8 on Monday, March 30. We'll reveal the results of the Final Four on Friday, April 10, and then we’ll crown the ultimate champion on Monday, April 13.
You Might Also Like
