Noun: an early form of study or belief system that laid the groundwork for a future scientific field. For example, alchemy could be considered the "proto-science" of chemistry.
"Alchemy, once dismissed as mere superstition, is now recognized as a proto-science that laid the foundation for modern chemistry."
noun; a field that starts with speculative or mystical ideas but gradually emerges as a legitimate science through the development of evidence-based methods
Alchemy's quest for the philosopher's stone may seem fantastical, but it was an emergent science that eventually led to breakthroughs in metallurgy and medicine
noun; a field of science in which mythological or mystical ideas were transformed into scientific knowledge, acknowledging the role of myth in the early development of human understanding.
The ancient belief in divine beings controlling the weather was a mytho-science that inspired early meteorological studies, leading to the scientificunderstanding of atmospheric phenomena
Several hours later, Jeff realized that his "5-minute solution" was quickly turning into a science project that would take several days of effort and lots of external resources (and that still might not solve the original problem).