Science and magic are two forces that shape our lives, indeed they shape all creatures' and all objects' lives. Science and magic work toward the same goals, the betterment of life for the user of sicence or magic. Some cosmic force greater than us has deemed science and magic to be linked eternally, by the fact that, science, by its nature, tries to explain the unexplainable, and magic, by its, endeavours to create the unexplainable.

The Magic of Science:
Before science existed in the sense we think of today, people still studied things using what is now referred to as the 'scientific method', in fact the first beginnings of the science known as chemistry were in the study of alchemy, the process by which one can turn lead, and other soft metals, into gold. Science, therefore, had its basic beginnings in the realms of magic. Furthermore, science can seem like magic, especially if it is a very advanced science. Imagine a caveperson coming into our time. To the caveperson, modern technology, which seems common to us, would be magic to him. For example, the microwave oven can cook food in a few minutes, without fire, definitely magic; and a telephone allows us to talk to people far away, more magic; the television and movies can show us pictures of people who aren't really there, magic indeed. This caveperson would believe all the things we take for granted are magic. Everything that is concidered scientific might as well be considered magic for the caveperson, especially since the science of the inventions could not be explained in terms that the caveperson would undersand.

The Science of Magic:
While advanced science may look like magic, there are still some parts of magic that relate back to science. In some of even the most basic spells a magic-user could know, a material component, some object that has some relationship to the effects of the spell, is needed in order for the spell to be cast correctly. After extensive examination of the material components* for various spells one is able to determine that the material components* do, in fact, have a relation to science. For example, the ever present fireball spell, one of the material components is sulphur* which is a flammable substance. This holds true for all of the spells which require material components*. Science was not only developed from magic, but it influences back upon magic, strengthening and developing each other.

Science would never have possibly existed without magic. Conversely, magic could not possibly have become as successful as it is without the development and advancement of science. They each need the other in order to exist.

Thank you for your attention.

* All material component information has been taken from the AD&D Player's Handbook since there are at this time no spells with material component requirements on Karchan.

-OmegaMan