...I can't really say I'm surprised to find there's no topic about this here, but I would like to hope that someone here has heard of Mushi-Shi. It isn't televised beyond Asia as far as I know, but it's been widely released on DVD by now. The anime series is based off of the manga of the same title by Yuki Urushibara.

And since I'm just babbling mindlessly already, Mushi-Shi. Thoughts? How many of you have heard of it/seen it?

Yeah I have heard of it.
I saw the first episode on a sample disk that was put out here and it seemed interesting but I never got around to actually watching the rest.

Aaaauuugggghhhllllppphhhbbblllpphhfff*guttural noises* I love it to death. Love it. It's like a giant masterpiece to me; I can't even properly describe it. The way it's written is like a series of stand alone stories put together into a loosely contiguous weave. There isn't much action to it, but it doesn't need it; it's very interesting all on its own. It's actually the kind of series that if you have someone that's open to animation but doesn't like the typical anime, this would be a good series to have as a starter anime.

There's a little blurb that the author left in the fold of the first volume of the manga. Here's what it said:

"Ever since I was a child, I've always loved the old stories. I loved insects, and I loved science (at least up through grade-school level). And so now I'm drawing this kind of story. Of course this is nothing compared to the old stories, but if you enjoy it, then that will make me happy."

The series has a very lore-like feel to it, just like Yuki Urushibara was apparently going for, and I love that. If you searched online, you could probably find complete episodes on video sites somewhere. I know I have before, but by now I own all but the last DVD, so I haven't actually bothered. ._.;

I've heard about it and had it recommended by me a few times.

I may or may not put it on the list of anime I should watch.

I take it that it's a drama? I'm not really all too much into those unless they have some comic relief. Or maybe it's something scary? Mushi means insect after all, and you mentioned science.

Questions questions questions. Might need to check it out... As long as it ain't some scary s***.

From what I recall of the first episode (correct me if I'm wrong) it's about this guy that goes around investigating strange occurrances.
He hears stories of ghosts or disapearances or other strange things and he looks into them trying to find these weird nature spirit things.
I don't remember what he did at the end of the first episode, I think he just talked to the things and went home.
So yeah... That might not have been anywhere near correct or anything but I'm sure someone will say if thats the case.

Synopsis
They are neither plants nor animals. They differ from other forms of life such as the micro-organisms and the fungi. Instead they resemble the primeval body of life and are generally known as "Mushi". Their existence and appearance are unknown to many and only a limited number of humans are aware of them. Ginko is a "Mushi-shi" who travels around to investigate and find out more about the "Mushi". In the process, he also lends a helping hand to people who face problems with supernatural occurances which may be related to the "Mushi". (Source: ANN)

There ya go.

Definitely put this on my "WATCH THIS NAO" list.

There are things in it that are just plain creepy, but in general we're looking at strange occurrences, and things that lie on the border of the ghostly supernatural, pretty much as DH describes.

The first episode had Ginko investigating a boy said to have a godly left hand. Whatever he drew with it would come to life. He later finds the spirit of the boy's grandmother turned half-mushi, and a broken sake dish that slipped from the folds of her kimono. The dish was part of a rare mushi ceremony she had become part of ages ago; its broken state was due to the ceremony being interrupted, leading to her entrapment between the human and mushi worlds (so even after she died, her other half, her spirit, remained in the house with her grandson).

So Ginko had the boy draw a complete version of the dish from his imagination using his left hand. It emerged from the paper as a whole, then split in two, and one half disappeared. The half that the boy's grandmother carried was joined with that which the lad had conjured, and the ceremony could be finished. She had a drink of the "wine" that the dish draws of and became whole again, then her grandson had a drink, and had a long look into her memories of the ceremony (called a banquet, actually) and what happened.

I suppose most people would say that's how the episode ends, but it really ends with Ginko leaving the next day to continue on his way.

Hulu shows the entire series in dub, if you don't feel like hunting for it, but I do recommend watching it subbed. I'm not an elitist anime nerd by any stretch of the mind, but I've found that for some reason I just prefer the dialogue in the subtitled version better. ._.

I saw the first episode, thanks to online videos and such, and I must say, it sure is interesting. It sure has an interesting art style, and some pretty good animations, and plot ideas. I think I understand why you like it.