The social sciences are groups of academic disciplines that study the human aspects of the world. They diverge from the arts and humanities in that the social sciences emphasize the use of the scientific method and rigorous standards of evidence in the study of humanity, including quantitative and qualitative methods.

The social sciences, in studying both inter-subjective and objective or structural aspects of society, are sometime referred to as soft sciences. This is in contrast to hard sciences, which may focus exclusively on objective aspects of nature.

Social scientists engage in research and theorize about both aggregate and individual behaviors.

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'Jules Verne' begins final voyage
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:27:47 -0000
Europe's space freighter undocks from the International Space Station after completing its mission to the orbiting platform.
Universal flu vaccine tests start
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:21 -0000
A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual flu jab is being trialled on UK volunteers.
Rosetta probe makes asteroid pass
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:12:51 -0000
Europe's Rosetta space probe makes a close pass of asteroid Steins, taking pictures and recording other scientific data.
Sea level rise by 2100 'below 2m'
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:49:44 -0000
Natural restrictions on the way glaciers move means sea level rise above 2m this century is very unlikely, researchers say.
Mammoths moved 'out of America'
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:50:25 -0000
Ancient DNA evidence points to the last Siberian woolly mammoths having originated in North America.
Bumblebees outwit robotic spiders
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:47:52 -0000
Bumblebees learn from their encounters with camouflaged crab spiders and adapt their foraging strategy.

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