Power Words
antibodies: Any of a large number of proteins that the body produces from B cells and
releases into the blood supply as part of its immune response.
The production of antibodies is triggered when the body encounters an
antigen, some foreign material. Antibodies then lock onto antigens as a first
step in disabling the germs or other foreign substances that were the source of
those antigens.
atom: The basic unit
of a chemical element. Atoms are made up of a dense nucleus that contains positively
charged protons and uncharged neutrons. The nucleus is orbited by a cloud of
negatively charged electrons.
cell: The smallest
structural and functional unit of an organism. Typically too small to see with
the unaided eye, it consists of a watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or
wall. Depending on their size, animals are made of anywhere from thousands to
trillions of cells. Most organisms, such as yeasts, molds, bacteria and some
algae, are composed of only one cell. (in telecommunications) A technology that
relies on a large number of base stations to relay signals. Each base station
covers only a small area, which is known as a cell. Phones that rely on this
system are typically referred to as cell phones.
chronic: A condition,
such as an illness (or its symptoms, including pain), that lasts for a long
time.
electric charge: The physical property responsible for electric force; it can be negative
or positive.
electron: A negatively
charged particle, usually found orbiting the outer regions of an atom; also,
the carrier of electricity within solids.
evaporate: To turn from
liquid into vapor.
exotic: An adjective
to describe something that is highly unusual, strange or foreign (such as exotic plants).
field: An area of
study, as in: Her field of research was biology. Also a term to describe a real-world environment in
which some research is conducted, such as at sea, in a forest, on a mountaintop
or on a city street. It is the opposite of an artificial setting, such as a
research laboratory. (in physics) A region in space where certain physical
effects operate, such as magnetism (created by a magnetic field), gravity (by a
gravitational field), mass (by a Higgs field) or electricity (by an electrical
field).
fluorescent: (v. fluoresce) Adjective for something that is capable of absorbing and
reemitting light. That reemitted light is known as fluorescence.
hormone: (in zoology
and medicine) A chemical produced in a gland and then carried in the
bloodstream to another part of the body. Hormones control many important body
activities, such as growth. Hormones act by triggering or regulating chemical
reactions in the body. (in botany) A chemical that serves as a signaling
compound that tells cells of a plant when and how to develop, or when to grow
old and die.
immune: (adj.) Having
to do with immunity. (v.) Able to ward off a particular infection.
Alternatively, this term can be used to mean an organism shows no impacts from
exposure to a particular poison or process. More generally, the term may signal
that something cannot be hurt by a particular drug, disease or chemical.
immune system: The collection of cells and their responses that help the body fight off
infections and deal with foreign substances that may provoke allergies.
infection: A disease that
can spread from one organism to another. It’s usually caused by some type
of germ.
ion: (adj. ionized)
An atom or molecule with an electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or
more electrons. An ionized gas, or plasma, is where all of the electrons
have been separated from their parent atoms.
lightning: A flash of
light triggered by the discharge of electricity that occurs between clouds or
between a cloud and something on Earth’s surface. The electrical current can
cause a flash heating of the air, which can create a sharp crack of thunder.
liquid: A material
that flows freely but keeps a constant volume, like water or oil.
liver: An organ of
the body of animals with backbones that performs a number of important
functions. It can store fat and sugar as energy, break down harmful substances
for excretion by the body, and secrete bile, a greenish fluid released into the
gut, where it helps digest fats and neutralize acids.
magnetic field: An area of influence created by certain materials, called magnets, or by
the movement of electric charges.
matter: Something that
occupies space and has mass. Anything on Earth with matter will have a property
described as "weight."
molecule: An
electrically neutral group of atoms that represents the smallest possible
amount of a chemical compound. Molecules can be made of single types of atoms
or of different types. For example, the oxygen in the air is made of two oxygen
atoms (O2), but water is made of two hydrogen atoms and one
oxygen atom (H2O).
nutrient: A vitamin,
mineral, fat, carbohydrate or protein that a plant, animal or other organism
requires as part of its food in order to survive.
particle: A minute
amount of something.
physics: The scientific
study of the nature and properties of matter and energy. Classical physics is
an explanation of the nature and properties of matter and energy that relies on
descriptions such as Newton’s laws of motion. Quantum physics, a field of study
that emerged later, is a more accurate way of explaining the motions and
behavior of matter. A scientist who works in such areas is known as a
physicist.
plasma: (in chemistry
and physics) A gaseous state of matter in which electrons separate from the
atom. A plasma includes both positively and negatively charged particles. (in
medicine) The colorless fluid part of blood.
platelets: The smallest
of blood cells, their role is to hunt for signs that a blood vessel has been
damaged. Then the platelets congregate at the site of damage and transform
themselves, growing long tentacles. There, they link together, creating a clot
to plug any hole. This should help stem the potential loss of blood.
protein: A compound made
from one or more long chains of amino acids. Proteins are an essential part of
all living organisms. They form the basis of living cells, muscle and tissues;
they also do the work inside of cells. Among the better-known, stand-alone proteins
are the hemoglobin (in blood) and the antibodies (also in blood) that
attempt to fight infections. Medicines frequently work by latching onto
proteins.
red blood cell: Colored red by hemoglobin, these cells move oxygen from the lungs to all
tissues of the body. Red blood cells are too small to be seen by the unaided
eye.
solar: Having to do
with the sun or the radiation it emits. It comes from sol, Latin for sun.
solar wind: A flow of charged particles (including atomic nuclei) that have been
ejected from the surface of the star, such as our sun. It can permeate the
solar system. This is called a stellar wind, when from a star other than the
sun.
solid: Firm and
stable in shape; not liquid or gaseous.
star: The basic
building block from which galaxies are made. Stars develop when gravity
compacts clouds of gas. When they become hot enough, stars will emit light and
sometimes other forms of electromagnetic radiation. The sun is our closest
star.
sun: The star at
the center of Earth’s solar system. It is about 27,000 light-years from the
center of the Milky Way galaxy. Also a term for any sunlike star.
universe: The entire
cosmos: All things that exist throughout space and time. It has been expanding
since its formation during an event known as the Big Bang, some 13.8 billion
years ago (give or take a few hundred million years).
vitamin: Any of a group
of chemicals that are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are
required in small quantities in the diet because either they cannot be made by
the body or the body cannot easily make them in sufficient amounts to
support health.
white blood cells: Blood cells that help the body fight off infection.
