Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

Medieval [[Latin]] laboratorium, from Latin laborare  to labor, from [[labor]]

Medieval [[Latin]] laboratorium, from Latin laborare  to labor, from [[labor]]

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Century 1605]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Century 1605]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 a : a place equipped for [[experimental]] [[study]] in a [[science]] or for testing and [[analysis]]; broadly : a place providing [[opportunity]] for experimentation, [[observation]], or [[practice]] in a field of [[study]]  

*1 a : a place equipped for [[experimental]] [[study]] in a [[science]] or for testing and [[analysis]]; broadly : a place providing [[opportunity]] for experimentation, [[observation]], or [[practice]] in a field of [[study]]  

Scientific laboratories can be found in schools and [[universities]], in [[industry]], in [[government]] or military facilities, and even aboard ships and spacecraft. A laboratory might offer [[work]] [[space]] for just one to more than thirty researchers depending on its size and [[purpose]].

Scientific laboratories can be found in schools and [[universities]], in [[industry]], in [[government]] or military facilities, and even aboard ships and spacecraft. A laboratory might offer [[work]] [[space]] for just one to more than thirty researchers depending on its size and [[purpose]].

==Characteristics of scientific laboratories

==Characteristics of scientific laboratories

Labs used for [[scientific]] [[research]] take many [[forms]] because of the [[differing]] requirements of specialists in the various fields of science. A [[physics]] lab might contain a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_accelerator particle accelerator] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum vacuum] chamber, while a metallurgy lab could have apparatus for casting or refining metals or for testing their [[strength]]. A [[chemist]] or [[biologist]] might use a wet laboratory, while a [[psychologist]]'s lab might be a room with one-way mirrors and hidden cameras in which to [[observe]] [[behavior]]. In some laboratories, such as those commonly used by computer scientists, computers (sometimes supercomputers) are used for either [[simulations]] or the [[analysis]] of [[data]] collected elsewhere. Scientists in other fields will use still other [[types]] of laboratories. Despite the great [[differences]] among laboratories, some features are common. The use of workbenches or countertops at which the scientist may [[choose]] to either sit or stand is a common way to ensure comfortable working conditions for the [[researcher]], who may spend a large portion of his or her working day in the laboratory. The provision of cabinets for the storage of laboratory equipment is quite common. It is [[traditional]] for a scientist to [[record]] an [[experiment]]'s [[progress]] in a laboratory notebook, but modern labs almost always contain at least one computer workstation for [[data]] [[collection]] and [[analysis]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory]

Labs used for [[scientific]] [[research]] take many [[forms]] because of the [[differing]] requirements of specialists in the various fields of science. A [[physics]] lab might contain a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_accelerator particle accelerator] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum vacuum] chamber, while a metallurgy lab could have apparatus for casting or refining metals or for testing their [[strength]]. A [[chemist]] or [[biologist]] might use a wet laboratory, while a [[psychologist]]'s lab might be a room with one-way mirrors and hidden cameras in which to [[observe]] [[behavior]]. In some laboratories, such as those commonly used by computer scientists, computers (sometimes supercomputers) are used for either [[simulations]] or the [[analysis]] of [[data]] collected elsewhere. Scientists in other fields will use still other [[types]] of laboratories. Despite the great [[differences]] among laboratories, some features are common. The use of workbenches or countertops at which the scientist may [[choose]] to either sit or stand is a common way to ensure comfortable working conditions for the [[researcher]], who may spend a large portion of his or her working day in the laboratory. The provision of cabinets for the storage of laboratory equipment is quite common. It is [[traditional]] for a scientist to [[record]] an [[experiment]]'s [[progress]] in a laboratory notebook, but modern labs almost always contain at least one computer workstation for [[data]] [[collection]] and [[analysis]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory]

[[Category: The Sciences]]

[[Category: The Sciences]]