---
title: "Index of branches of science"
chunk: 8/10
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_of_branches_of_science"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:28:12.104269+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

== P ==
Paedology – Study of children's behavior and development
Paidonosology – study of children's diseases; pediatrics
Palaeoanthropology – Study of ancient humans
Palaeobiology – Study of organic evolution using fossils
Palaeoclimatology – Study of changes in ancient climate
Palaeoichthyology – study of ancient fish
Palaeolimnology – Scientific study of ancient lakes and streams
Palaeontology – Study of life before the Holocene epoch
Palaeopedology – Discipline studying soils of the past eras
Paleobotany – Study of organic evolution of plants based on fossils
Paleo-osteology – study of ancient bones 
Paleoseismology – Study of earthquakes that happened in the past
Palynology – Study of pollen and other acid-resistant microoscopic organic material
Papyrology – Scientific study of ancient manuscripts
Paradoxology – Logically self-contradictory statementPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – study of paradoxes 
Parapsychology – Study of paranormal and psychic phenomena 
Parasitology – Study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them
Paroemiology – study of proverbs
Parthenology – study of virgins 
Particle physics – Study of subatomic particles and forces
Pathology – Study of disease
Pedagogics – Theory and practice of educationPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets 
Pedology – Study of soils in their natural environment
Pelology – study of mud
Penology – Subfield of criminology – study of crime and punishment 
Periodontology, also known as Periodontics – Field of dentistry
Pestology – Scientific study of insectsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – science of pests 
Petrology – Study of rocks in geology
Pharmacognosy – Study of drugs obtained from natural sources
Pharmacology – Science of drugs and medications and their effects
Pharology – Scientific study of lighthouses and signal lights
Pharyngology – study of the throat
Phenology – Study of periodic events in biological life cycles
Phenomenology – Philosophical method and schools of philosophy – study of phenomena 
Philology – Study of language in historical sources
Philosophy – Study of general and fundamental questions – science of knowledge or wisdom 
Phoniatrics – Sudy and treatment of organs involved in speech production
Phonetics – Study of how humans produce and perceive sounds
Phonology – Study of sound organization in languages
Photobiology – Scientific study of light's effect on living organisms
Photonics – Technical applications of optics – study of photons
Phraseology – Linguistic study of phrases
Phycology – Branch of biology concerned with the study of algae
Phylogenetics, also known as Phylogeny – Study of evolutionary relationships between organisms
Physics – Scientific field of study
Physiology – Science regarding functions in organisms or living systems
Phytology, also known as Botany – Study of plant life
Piscatology – study of fishes
Pisteology – science or study of faith 
Planetary science, also known as Planetology – Science of planets and planetary systems
Plumology – Study of feathers
Plutology – political economy; study of wealth 
Pneumatics – Use of pressurised gas in mechanical systems – study of mechanics of gases 
Pneumonology – Study of respiratory diseases
Podiatry, also known as Podology – Medicine branch focusing on the human lower extremities
Political science – Scientific study of politics and social science
Polemology – Multidisciplinary study of war
Pomology – Study of fruits and their cultivation
Pogonology – Hair on the chin, lower face and neckPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – study of beards
Posology – Study of dosage of medicines
Potamology – Study of rivers
Pragmatics – Branch of linguistics and semiotics relating context to meaning
Praxeology – Theory of human action
Primatology – Scientific study of primates
Proctology – Study of the structure and diseases of the anus, rectum, and sigmoid colon
Protistology – Scientific discipline devoted to the study of protists – study of protists
Proxemics – Study of human use of space and the effects that population density has on behavior
Psephology – Quantitative scientific analysis of elections and balloting (within political science) – study of election results and voting trends
Pseudology – art or science of lying 
Pseudoptics – study of optical illusions
Psychobiology – Neuroscience of behaviour
Psychogenetics – Study of genetic-environment interactions influencing behaviour – study of internal or mental states
Psychognosy – study of mentality, personality or character
Psycholinguistics – Study of relations between psychology and language
Psychology – Study of mental functions and behaviors
Psychopathology – Scientific study of mental disorders
Psychophysics – Branch of knowledge relating physical stimuli and psychological perception
Pteridology – Class of vascular plantsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – study of ferns
Pterylology – study of distribution of feathers on birds
Punnology – study of puns
Pyretology – study of fevers
Pyrgology – study of towers
Pyroballogy – study of artillery
Pyrography – Art or decoration made from burn marks – study of woodburning
Pyrotechnics – Science of creating combustibles and explosives for entertainment – study of combustion through fire or explosions

== Q ==
Quantum computing – Computer hardware technology that uses quantum mechanics – the exploitation of collective properties of quantum states, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform computation.
Quantum mechanics – Description of physical properties at the atomic and subatomic scale – a fundamental theory in physics which describes nature at the smallest scales of energy levels of atoms and subatomic particles
Quantum physics – Description of physical properties at the atomic and subatomic scale – the study of matter and energy at the most fundamental level
Queer theory – Field of critical theory – study of issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity
Quinology – study of quinine.