Scientific News

Articles across mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and astronomy.

• Science

  Information content

  In information theory, the information content, self-information, surprisal, or Shannon information is a basic quantity derived from the probability of a particular event occurring from a random variable. It can be thought of as an alternative way of expressing probability, much like odds or log-odds, but which has particular mathematical advantages in the setting of information theory. The Shanno

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information continuum

  The term information continuum is used to describe the whole set of all information, in connection with information management. The term may be used in reference to the information or the information infrastructure of a people, a species, a scientific subject or an institution.

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Infrared sauna

  An infrared sauna uses infrared heaters to emit infrared light experienced as radiant heat which is absorbed by the surface of the skin. Infrared saunas are popular in alternative therapies, where they are claimed to help with a number of medical issues including autism, cancer, and COVID-19, but these claims are entirely pseudoscientific. Traditional saunas differ from infrared saunas in that the

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information flow (information theory)

  Information flow in an information theoretical context is the transfer of information from a variable x {\displaystyle x} to a variable y {\displaystyle y} in a given process. Not all flows may be desirable; for example, a system should not leak any confidential information (partially or not) to public observer

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Infraspecific name

  In botany, an infraspecific name is the scientific name for any taxon below the rank of species, i.e. an infraspecific taxon or infraspecies. The scientific names of botanical taxa are regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). As specified by the ICN, the name of an infraspecific taxon is a combination of the name of a species and an infraspecific epit

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information dimension

  In information theory, information dimension is an information measure for random vectors in Euclidean space, based on the normalized entropy of finely quantized versions of the random vectors. This concept was first introduced by Alfréd Rényi in 1959. Simply speaking, it is a measure of the fractal dimension of a probability distribution. It characterizes the growth rate of the Shannon entropy gi

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information theory and measure theory

  This article discusses how information theory (a branch of mathematics studying the transmission, processing and storage of information) is related to measure theory (a branch of mathematics related to integration and probability).

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Infrared spectroscopy correlation table

  An infrared spectroscopy correlation table (or table of infrared absorption frequencies) is a list of absorption peaks and frequencies, typically reported in wavenumber, for common types of molecular bonds and functional groups. In physical and analytical chemistry, infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy) is a technique used to identify chemical compounds based on the way infrared radiation is abs

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information-based complexity

  Information-based complexity (IBC) studies optimal algorithms and computational complexity for the continuous problems that arise in physical science, economics, engineering, and mathematical finance.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information exchange

  Information exchange or information sharing is the passing of information from one person or entity to another. This can be done through bidirectional information transfer in telecommunications and computer science, or communication seen from a system-theoretic or information-theoretic point of view. As "information," in this context invariably refers to digital data that encodes and represents t

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Information diagram

  An information diagram is a type of Venn diagram used in information theory to illustrate relationships among Shannon's basic measures of information: entropy, joint entropy, conditional entropy and mutual information. Information diagrams are a useful pedagogical tool for teaching and learning about these basic measures of information. Information diagrams have also been applied to specific prob

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information source (mathematics)

  In mathematics, an information source is a sequence of random variables ranging over a finite alphabet Γ, having a stationary distribution. The uncertainty, or entropy rate, of an information source is defined as H { X } = lim n → ∞

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information–action ratio

  The information–action ratio is a concept coined by cultural critic Neil Postman in his work Amusing Ourselves to Death. In short, Postman meant to indicate the relationship between a piece of information and what action, if any, a consumer of that information might reasonably be expected to take once learning it. In a speech to the German Informatics Society (Gesellschaft für Informatik) on Octob

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Inherent chirality

  In chemistry, inherent chirality is a property of asymmetry in molecules arising, not from a stereogenic or chiral center, but from a twisting of the molecule in 3-D space. The term was coined by Volker Boehmer in a 1994 review, to describe the chirality of calixarenes arising from their non-planar structure in 3-D space. This phenomenon was described as resulting from "the absence of a place of

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information projection

  In information theory, the information projection or I-projection of a probability distribution q onto a set of distributions P is p ∗ = arg ⁡ min p ∈ P

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information-centric networking

  Information-centric networking (ICN) is an approach to evolve the Internet infrastructure away from a host-centric paradigm, based on perpetual connectivity and the end-to-end principle, to a network architecture in which the focal point is identified information (or content or data). Some of the application areas of ICN are in web applications, multimedia streaming, the Internet of Things, Wirele

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Inherent viscosity

  In polymer science, inherent viscosity is the ratio of the natural logarithm of the relative viscosity of a polymer to its mass concentration. Inherent viscosity scales inversely to mass density, and a common unit is dL/g. Inherent viscosity is defined as η i n h =

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information-centric networking caching policies

  In computing, cache algorithms (also frequently called cache replacement algorithms or cache replacement policies) are optimizing instructions‍—‌or algorithms‍—‌that a computer program or a hardware-maintained structure can follow in order to manage a cache of information stored on the computer. When the cache is full, the algorithm must choose which items to discard to make room for the new ones.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Information fluctuation complexity

  Information fluctuation complexity is an information-theoretic quantity defined as the fluctuation of information about entropy. It is derivable from fluctuations in the predominance of order and chaos in a dynamic system and has been used as a measure of complexity in many diverse fields. It was introduced in a 1993 paper by Bates and Shepard.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Inertia damper

  An inertia damper is a device that counters vibration using the effects of inertia and other forces and motion. The damper does not negate the forces but either absorbs or redirects them by other means. For example, a large and heavy suspended body may be used to absorb several short-duration large forces, and to reapply those forces as a smaller force over a longer period.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of chemistry articles

  Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem), meaning "earth") is the physical science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions. Below is a list of chemistry-related articles in alphabetical order. Chemical compounds are listed separately at List of inorganic compounds, List of biomolecules, or List of organic compou

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Index of biology articles

  Biology is the study of life and its processes. Biologists study all aspects of living things, including all of the many life forms on earth and the processes in them that enable life. These basic processes include the harnessing of energy, the synthesis and duplication of the materials that make up the body, the reproduction of the organism and many other functions. Biology, along with chemistry

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index notation

  In mathematics and computer programming, index notation is used to specify the elements of an array of numbers. The formalism of how indices are used varies according to the subject. In particular, there are different methods for referring to the elements of a list, a vector, or a matrix, depending on whether one is writing a formal mathematical paper for publication, or when one is writing a com

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of optics articles

  Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light. Because light is an electromagnetic wave, other forms of electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays, microwaves, and radio waves exhibit

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Index of biochemistry articles

  Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes in living organisms. It deals with the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules. Articles related to biochemistry include:

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of logarithm articles

  This is a list of logarithm topics, by Wikipedia page. See also the list of exponential topics. Acoustic power Amoeba (mathematics) Antilogarithm Apparent magnitude Baker's theorem Bel Benford's law Binary logarithm Bode plot Henry Briggs Bygrave slide rule Cologarithm Common logarithm Complex logarithm Discrete logarithm Discrete logarithm records e Representations of e El Gamal discrete log cry

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of fractal-related articles

  This is a list of fractal topics, by Wikipedia page, See also list of dynamical systems and differential equations topics. 1/f noise Apollonian gasket Attractor Box-counting dimension Cantor distribution Cantor dust Cantor function Cantor set Cantor space Chaos theory Coastline Constructal theory Dimension Dimension theory Dragon curve Fatou set Fractal Fractal antenna Fractal art Fractal compres

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of geology articles

  This is a list of all articles related to geology – Scientific study of Earth's physical composition that cannot be readily placed on the following subtopic pages:

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of information theory articles

  This is a list of information theory topics. A Mathematical Theory of Communication algorithmic information theory arithmetic coding channel capacity Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems conditional entropy conditional quantum entropy confusion and diffusion cross-entropy data compression entropic uncertainty (Hirchman uncertainty) entropy encoding entropy (information theory) Fisher informati

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of oncology articles

  This is a list of terms related to Oncology. The original source for this list was the US National Cancer Institute's public domain Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of meteorology articles

  This is a list of meteorology topics. The terms relate to meteorology, the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. (see also: List of meteorological phenomena)

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of health articles

  Health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. This article lists major topics related to personal health.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  List of incomplete proofs

  This page lists notable examples of incomplete or incorrect published mathematical proofs. Most of these were accepted as complete or correct for several years but later discovered to contain gaps or errors. There are both examples where a complete proof was later found, or where the alleged result turned out to be false.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indefinite product

  In mathematics, the indefinite product operator is the inverse operator of Q ( f ( x ) ) = f ( x + 1 ) f ( x )

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Inelastic collision

  An inelastic collision, in contrast to an elastic collision, is a collision in which kinetic energy is not conserved due to the action of internal friction. In collisions of macroscopic bodies, some kinetic energy is turned into vibrational energy of the atoms, causing a heating effect, and the bodies are deformed. The molecules of a gas or liquid rarely experience perfectly elastic collisions bec

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index set

  In mathematics, an index set is a set whose members label (or index) members of another set. For instance, if the elements of a set A may be indexed or labeled by means of the elements of a set J, then J is an index set. The indexing consists of a surjective function from J onto A, and the indexed collection is typically called an indexed family, often written as {Aj}j∈J.

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Inelastic scattering

  In chemistry, nuclear physics, and particle physics, inelastic scattering is a process in which the internal states of a particle or a system of particles change after a collision. Often, this means the kinetic energy of the incident particle is not conserved (in contrast to elastic scattering). Additionally, relativistic collisions which involve a transition from one type of particle to another a

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Indicator diagram

  An indicator diagram is a chart used to measure the thermal, or cylinder, performance of reciprocating steam and internal combustion engines and compressors. An indicator chart records the pressure in the cylinder versus the volume swept by the piston, throughout the two or four strokes of the piston which constitute the engine, or compressor, cycle. The indicator diagram is used to calculate the

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indian astronomy

  Astronomy has a long history in the Indian subcontinent, stretching from pre-historic to modern times. Some of the earliest roots of Indian astronomy can be dated to the period of Indus Valley Civilisation or earlier. Astronomy later developed as a discipline of Vedanga, or one of the "auxiliary disciplines" associated with the study of the Vedas dating 1500 BCE or older. The oldest known text is

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Index to Marine & Lacustrine Geological Samples

  The Index to Marine & Lacustrine Geological Samples is a collaboration between multiple institutions and agencies that operate geological sample repositories. The purpose of the database is to help researchers locate sea floor and lakebed cores, grabs, dredges, and drill samples in their collections. Sample material is available from participating institutions unless noted as unavailable. Data in

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Indiana pi bill

  The Indiana pi bill was bill 246 of the 1897 sitting of the Indiana General Assembly, one of the most notorious attempts to establish mathematical truth by legislative fiat. Despite its name, the main result claimed by the bill is a method to square the circle. The bill implies incorrect values of the mathematical constant π (pi), the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The bil

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indian National Chemistry Olympiad

  The Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO for short) is an Olympiad in Chemistry held in India. The theory part of the INChO examination is held in end-January/beginning of February of every year. It is conducted by the Indian Association of Chemistry Teachers. School students (usually of standards 11 and 12) first need to qualify the National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC) held in N

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indium bromide

  Indium bromide may refer to: Indium(I) bromide, InBr Indium(III) bromide, InBr3; when molten it is dimeric, In2Br6, and it is predominantly dimeric in the gas phase

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indium selenide

  Indium selenide, an inorganic compound composed of indium and selenium, refers to: Indium(II) selenide Indium(III) selenide

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indium chloride

  Indium chloride may refer to: Indium monochloride (indium(I) chloride), InCl Indium dichloride(indium(II) chloride), InCl2 Indium trichloride (indium(III) chloride), InCl3

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Inequalities in information theory

  Inequalities are very important in the study of information theory. There are a number of different contexts in which these inequalities appear.

  8/24/2026

• 

  Science

  Industrial engineering

  Industrial engineering (IE) revolves around the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained f

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indexed family

  In mathematics, a family, or indexed family, is a collection of objects, each associated with an element, known as an index, that belongs to some index set. For example, a family of real numbers, indexed by the set of integers, is a collection of real numbers, where a given function selects one real number for each integer (possibly the same) as indexing. More formally, an indexed family is a math

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Index of physics articles

  Physics (Greek: physis–φύσις meaning "nature") is the natural science which examines basic concepts such as mass, charge, matter and its motion and all that derives from these, such as energy, force and spacetime. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the world and universe behave. The index of physics articles is split into multiple pages due to

  8/24/2026

• Science

  Indo-European cosmogony

  The Indo-European cosmogony refers to the creation myth of the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European mythology. The comparative analysis of different Indo-European tales has led scholars to reconstruct an original Proto-Indo-European creation myth involving twin brothers, *Manu and *Yemo ('Man' and 'Twin') as the progenitors of the world and mankind, and a hero named *Trito ('Third') who ensured the c

  8/24/2026