Scientists Say
A weekly word defined, in a sentence and in context.
- Chemistry
Scientists Say: Excitation
Excited electrons are to thank for dazzling fireworks displays, plants harnessing energy, the semiconductors behind modern tech and more.
- Animals
Scientists Say: Endotherm and Ectotherm
Endotherms use their own energy to maintain their internal temperature. Ectotherms use external heat sources to control their body temperature.
- Chemistry
Scientists Say: Methane
Used to cook food and heat homes, this potent greenhouse gas accounts for 30 percent of the warming of our climate.
- Health & Medicine
Scientists Say: Menstruation
Menstruation is part of a roughly monthly cycle that helps a person’s body prepare for possible pregnancy.
- Space
Scientists Say: Cosmic microwave background
The cosmic microwave background is the afterglow of the Big Bang.
- Animals
Scientists Say: Compound Eye
Compound eyes made up of many smaller visual structures may not produce crisp images, but they offer a great field of view.
- Math
Scientists Say: Correlation and Causation
There is a correlation between countries where people eat more chocolate and those that produce more Nobel Prize winners. But beware assuming that one variable causes the other.
- Genetics
Scientists Say: Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering involves adding, changing or removing certain pieces of DNA from a living thing to give it desired traits.
- Materials Science
Scientists Say: Semiconductor
Modern electronics, from cell phones to video games, work thanks to these conductor-insulator hybrids.
- Tech
Scientists Say: Digital Footprint
Your digital footprint contains both what you post online — and information about your online activity collected by others.
- Earth
Scientists Say: Supercontinent
These gigantic landmasses form when much of Earth’s landmass smashes together.
- Space
Scientists Say: Corona
The sun’s corona can only be seen without special instruments during a total solar eclipse.
