Scientists Say

A weekly word defined, in a sentence and in context.

  1. Life

    Scientists Say: Fungi

    Although some fungi can cause diseases, others can be eaten, used to make medicines or serve other useful functions.

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  2. Physics

    Scientists Say: Force

    When an object experiences a force, its change in motion — or acceleration — depends on its mass.

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  3. Tech

    Scientists Say: LED

    LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, light up TV screens, traffic lights and many other devices used in daily life.

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  4. Brain

    Scientists Say: Cognition

    Cognition is involved in all conscious mental activity, from thinking and reasoning to remembering.

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  5. Earth

    Scientists Say: Humidity

    Feel sticky when you step outside on a summer day? Blame humidity — water in the air.

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  6. Genetics

    Scientists Say: DNA

    Short for deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA is the molecule that determines how each living thing looks and works.

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  7. Psychology

    Scientists Say: Trauma

    No one experiences trauma the same way. Its effects can be physical or emotional. Immediate or delayed. Brief or long-lasting.

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  8. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Pigment

    From fruits to fur to fine art, many materials get their colors from compounds called pigments.

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  9. Physics

    Scientists Say: Proton

    These positively charged particles are important building blocks in atoms.

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  10. Planets

    Scientists Say: Habitable Zone

    The habitable zone is the region around a star where temperatures could be right for worlds to host liquid water.

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  11. Computing

    Scientists Say: Supercomputer

    These ultrafast computers perform complex calculations for research on cancer, quantum physics and more.

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  12. Tech

    Scientists Say: Virtual reality

    Virtual reality is an immersive, 3-D artificial environment created by a computer.

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