Discovering Causal Relations and Equations from Data
- URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2305.13341v1
- Date: Sun, 21 May 2023 19:22:50 GMT
- Title: Discovering Causal Relations and Equations from Data
- Authors: Gustau Camps-Valls, Andreas Gerhardus, Urmi Ninad, Gherardo Varando,
Georg Martius, Emili Balaguer-Ballester, Ricardo Vinuesa, Emiliano Diaz,
Laure Zanna, Jakob Runge
- Abstract summary: This paper reviews the concepts, methods, and relevant works on causal and equation discovery in the broad field of Physics.
We provide a taxonomy for observational causal and equation discovery, point out connections, and showcase a complete set of case studies.
Exciting times are ahead with many challenges and opportunities to improve our understanding of complex systems.
- Score: 23.802778299505288
- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- Abstract: Physics is a field of science that has traditionally used the scientific
method to answer questions about why natural phenomena occur and to make
testable models that explain the phenomena. Discovering equations, laws and
principles that are invariant, robust and causal explanations of the world has
been fundamental in physical sciences throughout the centuries. Discoveries
emerge from observing the world and, when possible, performing interventional
studies in the system under study. With the advent of big data and the use of
data-driven methods, causal and equation discovery fields have grown and made
progress in computer science, physics, statistics, philosophy, and many applied
fields. All these domains are intertwined and can be used to discover causal
relations, physical laws, and equations from observational data. This paper
reviews the concepts, methods, and relevant works on causal and equation
discovery in the broad field of Physics and outlines the most important
challenges and promising future lines of research. We also provide a taxonomy
for observational causal and equation discovery, point out connections, and
showcase a complete set of case studies in Earth and climate sciences, fluid
dynamics and mechanics, and the neurosciences. This review demonstrates that
discovering fundamental laws and causal relations by observing natural
phenomena is being revolutionised with the efficient exploitation of
observational data, modern machine learning algorithms and the interaction with
domain knowledge. Exciting times are ahead with many challenges and
opportunities to improve our understanding of complex systems.
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