Material world

In scientific terms, the material world (natural world) consists of all matter and energy. Such natural phenomena are the subject of scientific study, where the word "world" is often interchangeable with that of "universe".

Some people believe in the existence of a non-material world in a sense beyond that of just mental experience. They rather believe in supernatural beings and in a supernatural reality absolutely different in kind to that of the natural world. If such a reality exists then clearly it is beyond the reach of science. On the other hand science has been very successful in bringing apparently inexplicable and supposedly supernatural phenomena within its scope.

The "natural world" is sometimes thought to exclude human as well as supernatural activity.

See also: materialism

External links

• James Randi Educational Foundation The JREF organization investigates claims that seem to contradict established science and attempts to verify them in controlled experimental conditions. There has been no success yet finding any evidence of anything not explainable by established science.