Scientists Say

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

  1. Space

    Scientists Say: Gas giant

    These gargantuan planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn, are mostly made up of hydrogen and helium gas.

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  2. Earth

    Scientists Say: Glacier

    Glaciers are massive ‘rivers of ice’ that move slowly over land. But climate change is shrinking them.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Outbreak, Epidemic and Pandemic

    These terms can describe what is happening as a disease spreads across communities, countries and the world.

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  4. Physics

    Scientists Say: Decibel

    A decibel is a unit of measurement that describes a sound’s volume. It’s used for sounds that are in the range of human hearing.

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  5. Ecosystems

    Scientists Say: Estuary

    This is where a freshwater river meets a salty sea. This environment has brackish water, a mix of saltwater and freshwater.

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  6. Physics

    Scientists Say: Quark

    These subatomic particles are the building blocks of bigger particles, including the protons and neutrons found in an atom’s nucleus.

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  7. Animals

    Scientists Say: Herbivore

    Herbivores are animals that can live on a diet of mostly plants.

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  8. Earth

    Scientists Say: Firewhirl and Firenado

    Firewhirls are smallish vortices of ash and flame; firenadoes are true twisters set off by the conditions that come with a wildfire.

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  9. Life

    Scientists Say: Nutrient

    Nutrients provide living things, from bacteria to animals, with the energy and materials to grow. But too much of a nutrient can sometimes cause harm.

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  10. Animals

    Scientists Say: Papillae

    These small nubs stick out from a body part. They include things such as tongue bumps with taste buds and the structures under the skin that help grow hair.

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  11. Scientists Say: Octopod

    These marine animals have soft bodies and eight sucker-lined arms. Some are known for their smarts or ability to quickly change colors.

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  12. Physics

    Scientists Say: Power

    This word describes the rate at which energy is delivered or used to do work, along with related ideas, such as ways of making electricity.

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