Science in the World of Avatar

Knowledge of science is rather limited to the people in the world of Avatar. The most used, developed and known science is astronomy. The Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom are the most developed nations in the field of scientific knowledge.

It is known and clear in the World of Avatar what science is and what it can or cannot prove, especially to people like the mechanist, War Minister Qin, and Sokka.

Air Nomads


The Air Nomads don't have many scientific breakthroughs or advanced technology.

Philosophical science
The Air Nomads do practice and develop philosophy persistently, especially the Council of Elders. The airbenders show stronger spiritual beliefs than the other three nations, which draws them away from science more than the other nations.

Environmental knowledge
Their scientific knowledge is principally based in the air and its bending. The Air Nomads know the science of ecology too, since they try to do the least possible environmental damage. The Air Nomads have enough technical expertise to produce their gliders, which cause no pollution and are thus environmentally friendly.

Water Tribe


The Water Tribes have limited scientific knowledge and technology.

Metal and wood crafting
The Water Tribe citizens have either scantily developed the science of metallurgy, because they have some types of weapons made of metal, or they have traded in order to gain such weapons and other useful objects or tools. They are also talented at wood working, as many of their weapons and boats consist of wood.

Medicinal science
Some waterbenders have special skills in the theme of healing. They have an understanding of chi paths and how to heal them. Some waterbending masters can realize bloodbending, which indicates that they have some knowledge about the human body.

Astronomy
The Water Tribes know about lunar eclipses and the consequences it brings to their waterbending. They have a vast knowledge of the moon, and understand the way the moon reacts on the tides of the ocean.

Earth Kingdom


The Earth Kingdom is one of the most scientifically advanced nations in the world of Avatar, second to the Fire Nation.

Astronomical knowledge
People of the Earth Kingdom seem to know the cause of eclipses and can predict them through a planetary calendar room, located in Wan Shi Tong's Library. Astronomy is one of the many classes taught in Ba Sing Se University.

Anthropology
The Ba Sing Se University has an Anthropology Department, where Professor Zei has an important charge. Some people have journeyed into the Si Wong Desert to better understand desert culture by studying the Sandbender Tribes.

Medical knowledge


The Earth Kingdom has a considerable medical knowledge. Medicinal plants are widely used to treat disease, and are often made into herbal tea; and it is known the benefit of massage therapy. Salves and ointments are used as well to cure rashes, as when Iroh is poisoned by the white jade bush. Some practices aim to improve the patient's Chi flow, and are used to treat a wide variety of diseases. Two such practices are acupuncture, which involves inserting fine needles into specific points to relieve pain, and fire cupping, which relieves stagnant Chi by placing heated glass bowls over the acupuncture points to draw out malignant energy. Surgery is practiced in the Earth Kingdom, and doctors can be found in all larger cities, as well as in many smaller towns, and with military units. The Earth Kingdom has many physicians, who study and treat many physical ailments, as well as herbalists, who devote themselves to the study and cultivation of medicinal plants such as sandalwood, banana leaf, and ginger root. Animal products such as frozen wood frog are sometimes used in traditional Earth Kingdom medicine.

Metal working
In the field of engineering and technology, the mechanist has made many useful and important inventions. The mechanist uses scientific knowledge, such as physics, in his inventions. He has a vast knowledge of mechanical science, making him a great advantage to the Earth Kingdom forces during the War.

Fire Nation


The Fire Nation is the most scientifically advanced nation in the entire World of Avatar.

Astronomy
The Fire Nation have reasonable knowledge of astronomy, predicting the arrival of Sozin's Comet. They use this knowledge to tap into the power that can be gained when a comet passes close enough to the planet.

Medical knowledge
The Fire Nation has considerable medical knowledge. Places that treat mental health patients, such as the one where Azula is brought to after the Comet-Enhanced Agni Kai, are examples of medical housing. As in the Earth Kingdom, people also know the health benefits of tea, and relaxing yoga in hot springs.

Metallurgy
Metallurgy is the most advanced science in the Fire Nation, due to the fact that they have many weapons, transports, and devices made of metal, such as the drill. This gives the Fire Nation a strategic advantage over the other nations, especially the Earth Kingdom because earthbenders are unable to bend metal, with Toph as the sole exception. The war effort increased the amount of metal making sciences tenfold. Factories, such as the one by Jang Hui village, specializes in the creation of metal weaponry.

Geography
The Fire Nation also has moderate geographic knowledge. In Zhao's harbor, a painted map of the World of Avatar is placed, which indicates the study and knowledge of the physical forms of the continents and territories. The Fire Nation also understands the geographical areas of the other nations beside their nation, such as the Earth Kingdom and possibly the Water Tribes due to their fighting in the War.

Chemistry and use of resources
The Fire Nation also has some knowledge in chemistry, due to having the ability to manufacture explosive weapons, which is used in fireworks. They also have some knowledge about mineralogy and fossil fuels, due to the fact that the Fire Nation Navy operates on ships that work with coal, a burnable mineral.

Construction


All of the cultures have outstanding examples of building construction, but it is not clear how the Air Nomads' distinctive temples were built. Most curious of all is the Western Air Temple, which is anchored from an overhanging cliff, and appears 'upside-down' to casual observers. There was certainly great effort put into construction, although nothing is known of the design timeframe, nor of possible airbending techniques that lend themselves to masonry.

What is known is that the temples were important to Air Nomad culture and to the training of airbenders, and that they were fairly complete prior to Aang's birth.