Scientists Say
A weekly word defined, in a sentence and in context.
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ChemistryScientists Say: Rare earth element
Rare earth elements aren’t all that rare — but skyrocketing demand for these metals makes them precious.
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TechScientists Say: Robot
These task-doers handle jobs as simple as vacuuming the floor and as complex as navigating extraterrestrial terrains.
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PhysicsScientists Say: X-ray
X-rays are a type of light that doctors use to image the inside of the body. Astronomers use X-rays to explore the cosmos.
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LifeScientists Say: Mycelium
These fibrous networks are the reason plants think fungi are such "fun guys.”
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TechScientists Say: Fiber optic cable
Whether you’re reading these words on a phone, computer or other device, you may have fiber optic cables to thank.
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PsychologyScientists Say: Neurodivergent
This often-misunderstood word describes someone whose brain works a little differently from most.
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PhysicsScientists Say: Radio Waves
Lightning, stars, supermassive black holes and more give off radio waves.
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ChemistryScientists Say: Valence electrons
These far-out electrons do the hard work when it comes to chemical reactions.
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SpaceScientists Say: Pulsar
These rapidly spinning dead stars send beams of radio waves into space like cosmic lighthouses.
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EcosystemsScientists Say: Predator and Prey
Ecological relationships between predators and their prey drive the evolution of plants, animals and microbes.
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EarthScientists Say: Tectonic Plate
Tectonic plates are giant slabs of rock that make up Earth’s outer layer.
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AnimalsScientists Say: Coral
Over 4,000 species of fish make their home among the reefs created by these colony-dwelling marine animals.