Science in Othello
During the time in which "Othello" was written, there was a boom not only in scientific discoveries, but in the importance of scientific theories. This is exemplified in the two books, "Sylva Sylvarum" by Francis Bacon and "A Historie of the World" by Pliny. Both these encyclopedia-like books are compounded of facts and theories from the scientific world, ranging from the best way to cure meats and the smell of rainbows to why Moors have darker skin and why the color purple was considered royal. A vast number of these theories reflect the limited knowledge pool of the time, and thus have been discounted in the new discoveries since.
This idea of science being able to explain why the Moors, and "others" in general are different plays greatly in "Othello". More specifically, science's inability to accurately identify sources of the "strangeness" in foreigners perpetuated the idea of mysticism and magic as a source of their differences.