Sciences
Scienze Esatte Fisiche E Naturali · 266 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects-
Optics (OTTICA)
OPTICS. - This name originally denoted that part of physics which deals with the modes of luminous phenomena. By light is meant a something… -
Paleoanthropology (Human Paleontology) (PALEOANTROPOLOGIA (PALEONTOLOGIA UMANA))
PALEOANTHROPOLOGY (HUMAN PALEONTOLOGY). - It is the science that studies the human skeletal remains found as fossils in prehistoric sites,… -
Paleontology (PALEONTOLOGIA)
PALEONTOLOGY. - From the Greek παλαιός "ancient," δυ "to be," and λόγος "discourse": it is the science that studies fossils, that is, the… -
Parasitism (PARASSITISMO)
PARASITISM. - It denotes that form of association between organisms of different species in which one of the two associates (the parasite)… -
Pasteur, Louis
PASTEUR, LOUIS. - Born at Dôle on 27 Dec. 1822, died at Villeneuve-l'Etang on 28 Sept. 1895. He obtained the baccalaureate in letters… -
Pharmacology (FARMACOLOGIA)
PHARMACOLOGY. - The word, introduced into the medical vocabulary in the 1600s, in its etymology means the study of drugs (medicaments and… -
Phylogeny (FILOGENESI)
PHYLOGENY. - Within the framework of the theory of evolution, it denotes the historical order according to which the various groups of… -
Physical Indeterminism (INDETERMINISMO FISICO)
PHYSICAL INDETERMINISM. - Physical i. depends on the uncertainty principle, the foundation of atomic mechanics, due to W. Heisenberg. In… -
Physical Laws and Statistical Laws (LEGGI FISICHE E LEGGI STATISTICHE)
PHYSICAL LAWS AND STATISTICAL LAWS. - In the complex of natural phenomena that form the object of scientific research, two groups can be… -
Physical Theories (TEORIE FISICHE)
PHYSICAL THEORIES. - By physical theory is meant, in the most general sense, a rational explanation of a phenomenon or of a set of physical… -
Physics (FISICA)
PHYSICS. - From the Greek φύσις (nature). This is the name given to the science that studies the generic properties of matter and of the… -
Physiology (FISIOLOGIA)
PHYSIOLOGY. - From the Greek φύσις = nature and λογέω = I investigate, physiology is the science of the functioning of the living organism.… -
Piaggio, Antonio
PIAGGIO, ANTONIO. - Piarist, b. in Genoa on 18 February 1713, d. in Naples in 1797 or 1798. Of admirable ingenuity and patience in… -
Pliny the Elder (PLINIO IL VECCHIO)
PLINY THE ELDER. - Scholar, b. at Como in 23 A.D., d. near Misenum on 24 Aug. 79 A.D. during the eruption of Vesuvius that buried Stabiae,… -
Pregnancy Toxicoses (Gestosis, Pregnancy Toxemias, Pregnancy Toxicoses) (INTOSSICAZIONI GRAVIDICHE (GESTOSI, TOSSIEMIE GRAVIDICHE, TOSSICOSI GRAVIDICHE))
PREGNANCY TOXICOSES (Gestosis, Pregnancy Toxemias, Pregnancy Toxicoses). - Under this designation it is intended to group together all… -
Probability, Calculus of (PROBABILITÀ, CALCOLO DELLE)
PROBABILITY, CALCULATION OF. - Science that deals, both from the theoretical and from the practical point of view, with the study of causal… -
Psychoanalysis (PSICANALISI)
PSYCHOANALYSIS. - It is a system of dynamic psychology, that is, one that studies in particular the forces of propulsion and direction of… -
Quanti, Hypotheses and Theory of (QUANTI, IPOTESI E TEORIA DEI)
QUANTA, HYPOTHESIS AND THEORY OF. - The hypothesis of quanta is the first, in order of time and importance, of the two singular hypotheses… -
Quenstedt, Friedrich August
QUENSTEDT, FRIEDRICH AUGUST. - German geologist and mineralogist, b. at > (by courtesy of the rev. father Abbot Salmon) > QUENTIN, HENRI -… -
Radar
RADAR. - This name is generally used to designate a considerable series of criteria, methods and devices designed to detect, even at night… -
Radiations (RADIAZIONI)
RADIATIONS. - Under the generic name of r. one may designate both the flow of particles or corpuscles and that of electromagnetic waves:… -
Radioactivity (RADIOATTIVITÀ)
RADIOACTIVITY. - Atoms, according to the suggestive model proposed by Rutherford, are made up of a nucleus and satellite electrons (e.).… -
Radiocommunications (RADIOCOMUNICAZIONI)
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS. - I. EARLY DEVELOPMENTS. - The scientific basis of this means of various transmissions lies, as is well known, in… -
Regeneration (Science) (RIGENERAZIONE (SCIENZA))
REGENERATION (SCIENCE). - One of the general properties of living organisms is regulation (v.), a property that allows the preservation of… -
Regulation (in Biology) (REGOLAZIONE (IN BIOLOGIA))
REGULATION (IN BIOLOGY). - This term designates one of the fundamental phenomena of living beings, whereby an organism tends to "regulate"… -
Relativity, Theory of (RELATIVITÀ, TEORIA DELLA)
RELATIVITY, Theory of. - I. PHYSICAL SPACE AND TIMES. - This theory, like the almost contemporary theory of "quanta" (v.), is one of the… -
Reproduction (RIPRODUZIONE)
REPRODUCTION. - Reproduction, or the faculty of generating new organisms similar to themselves, is the most typical and fundamental… -
Respiration (RESPIRAZIONE)
RESPIRATION. - This term refers to the exchange between the organism and the external environment of those substances that are found in the… -
Ricca, Massimiliano
RICCA, MASSIMILIANO. - Piarist scientist, b. at Novara on 2 Nov. 1761, d. at Siena on 14 Jan. > (photo Almaris) > RICCARDI, FAMILY -… -
Rocks (ROCCE)
ROCKS. - This is the name given to aggregates of one or more minerals, forming part of the lithosphere as independent geological units.… -
Schiaparelli, Giovanni Virginio
SCHIAPARELLI, GIOVANNI VIRGINIO. - Astronomer, b. at Savigliano (province of Cuneo) on 14 March 1835, d. at Milan on 4 July 1910. At… -
Science of Nutrition (SCIENZA DELL'ALIMENTAZIONE)
FOOD SCIENCE. - It is the study of man's dietary needs and, in a broader sense, also of those of animals and plants, and of the ways in… -
Secchi, Angelo
SECCHI, ANGELO. - Jesuit and astronomer, b. at Reggio Emilia on 18 June 1818, d. at Rome on 26 Feb. 1876. Having entered the Society of… -
Seismology (SISMOLOGIA)
SEISMOLOGY. - The fundamental task of s[eismology] is the study of the physical characteristics of the Earth's interior. To this end, it… -
Sella, Quintino
SELLA, QUINTINO. - Italian Minister of Finance, b. at Sella di Mosso (Vercelli) on 7 July 1827, d. at Biella on 14 March 1884. The son of a… -
Serpieri, Alessandro
SERPIERI, ALESSANDRO. - Scolopian scientist, b. at S. Giovanni di Marignano, near Rimini, on 31 Oct. 1825, d. at the College of the Badia… -
Solar System (SOLARE, SISTEMA)
SOLAR, SYSTEM. — It is the whole of the Sun and of the celestial bodies (planets and their satellites, minor planets, comets and certain… -
Sound (SUONO)
SOUND. - I. PHYSICAL GENESIS OF ACOUSTIC STIMULI. - The energy adequate to stimulate the auditory apparatus is a particular form of… -
Spallanzani, Lazzaro
SPALLANZANI, LAZZARO. - Born Sept. 12, 1729 at Scandiano (Reggio Emilia), died Feb. 12, 1799 at Pavia. After grammar studies at Scandiano… -
Species (SPECIE)
SPECIES. - A biological entity which, through physiological isolation, on the one hand allows the complex of characters inherited from its… -
Statistics (STATISTICA)
STATISTICS. - This term derives, most probably, from the Latin status, which means state, position, condition, manner of being. It was used… -
Stratigraphy (STRATIGRAFIA)
STRATIGRAPHY. - Stratigraphy, also called stratigraphic geology or historical geology, reconstructs the chronological order of deposition… -
Surgical Psychotherapy (Psychosurgery) (PSICOTERAPIA CHIRURGICA (PSICOCHIRURGIA))
SURGICAL PSYCHOTHERAPY (PSYCHOSURGERY). - One of the most recent branches of modern medicine; it comprises a whole series of neurosurgical… -
Symbiosis (SIMBIOSI)
SYMBIOSIS. - From the Greek σύν (= together) and βίος (= life). This term, introduced by A. de Bary in 1879, denotes the intimate and… -
Taramelli, Torquato
TARAMELLI, TORQUATO. - Geologist, b. at Bergamo on 15 Oct. 1845, d. at Pavia on 31 March 1922. He was set on the study of geology by his… -
Tectonics (TETTONICA)
TECTONICS. - It is that part of geology (v.) which deals with: a) the conditions of position (attitude), form and mutual relations of the… -
Terminology (TERMOLOGIA)
TERMINOLOGY. - It is the branch of physics that systematically studies phenomena in which heat plays a predominant part. Everyone has some… -
Thermodynamics (TERMODINAMICA)
THERMODYNAMICS. - Thermodynamics is the most important chapter of physics which, going far beyond the limit that its name would seem to… -
Tosetti, Urbano
TOSETTI, URBANO. - Piarist scientist, b. in Florence on 28 June 1714, d. in Rome on 9 March 1768. He devoted himself chiefly to the… -
Toxoinfective Psychoses (PSICOSI TOSSINFETTIVE)
TOXOINFECTIVE PSYCHOSES. - Mental syndromes that arise in the course of general diseases and of infectious diseases not particularly… -
Tropisms (TROPISMI)
TROPISMS. - The phenomenon of tropisms is closely connected with that of the excitability of living matter. Excitability is a fundamental… -
Twins (GEMELLI)
TWINS. - Twins are children born in the same birth and from the eggs of a single laying. In particular cases more than one individual can… -
Unity and Physical Dimensions (UNITÀ E DIMENSIONI FISICHE)
UNITY AND PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS. - The notion of the measurement of certain quantities, in particular of lengths, areas, weights, and hence… -
Venturi, Giovanni Battista
VENTURI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. - Priest, scientist and politician, b. at Bibbiano on 11 Sept. 1746, d. at Reggio Emilia on 10 Sept. 1822.… -
Verbiest, Ferdinand
VERBIEST, FERDINAND. - Jesuit, missionary and astronomer at the Court of Peking, b. at Pitthem, near Courtrai (Belgium) on 29 Oct. 1623, d.… -
Virus (Ultravirus, Infravirus, Filterable Viruses) (VIRUS (ULTRAVIRUS, INFRAVIRUS, VIRUS FILTRABILI))
VIRUS (Ultravirus, Infravirus, Filterable Viruses). - They are particular agents of diseases of man, animals and plants, characterized by… -
Vita Latent (VITA LATENTE)
LATENT LIFE. - Latent life falls within the field of biological adaptations. It is to be understood as a reduction to a minimum of every… -
Viventian Age (VIVENTI, ETÀ DEI)
VIVENTIAN AGE. - The enormous span of time that elapses between the solidification of the first terrestrial crust and the Cambrian (the… -
Volta, Alessandro
VOLTA, ALESSANDRO. - Illustrious physicist, from a noble family of Como, b. there on 18 Feb. 1745 and d. there on 5 March 1827. To him is… -
Vulcan (VULCANO)
VULCAN. - In common usage, volcanoes are elevations of the earth's crust through which, during periods of eruption, incandescent materials… -
Wasmann, Erich
WASMANN, ERICH. - Jesuit, naturalist and entomologist, b. at Merano (Tyrol) on 29 May 1859, d. at Valkenburg (Holland) on 27 February 1931.… -
Water (ACQUA)
WATER. - I. A. IN THE SCIENCES. - Every form of life, including human life, unfolds in an aqueous environment. Some animals, such as… -
Woods, Julian Edmund Tenison
WOODS, JULIAN EDMUND TENISON. - Naturalist, b. 15 Nov. 1832 at Southwark, d. 7 Oct. 1889 at Sydney. Having converted to Catholicism, he… -
Zantedeschi, Francesco
ZANTEDESCHI, FRANCESCO. - Priest and scientist, b. at Dolcé (Verona) on 18 Aug. 1797, d. at Padua on 29 March 1873. Ordained a priest at… -
Zoology (ZOOLOGIA)
ZOOLOGY. - The science whose object is the study of animals. This very broad definition, which makes the expression "z." a synonym of… -
Zurla, Placido
ZURLA, PLACIDO. - Cardinal, b. at Legnago (Verona) on 2 April 1769, d. in Sicily on 29 Oct. 1834. In 1787 he took the Camaldolese habit at…