Scientists Say

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

  1. Life

    Scientists Say: Metabolism

    Metabolism is all the chemical activities that support life in a cell, an organ and a whole organism’s body.

    By
  2. Animals

    Scientists Say: Jellies

    Jellies have roamed the seas for 500 million years. Some have stinging tentacles and bell-shaped bodies and are called jellyfish. Others are very different.

    By
  3. Planets

    Scientists Say: Exomoon

    A moon that orbits a planet in our solar system in a moon. But a moon that orbits a planet outside our solar system? That’s an exomoon.

    By
  4. Brain

    Scientists Say: Opioid

    Opioid drugs work in the brain to stop pain. But the drugs also produce pleasure, which can make people want to take them over and over again.

    By
  5. Climate

    Scientists Say: Rime ice

    Rime ice is ice that forms when water freezes in a snap onto a surface.

    By
  6. Ecosystems

    Scientists Say: Symbiosis

    Two species can live together and support each other in a relationship called symbiosis.

    By
  7. Math

    Scientists Say: Statistical significance

    Statistical significance is a phrase that describes how often a scientific difference might occur by accident.

    By
  8. Space

    Scientists Say: Orbit

    An orbit is the path one object in space takes around another, such as a planet, star or the center of an atom.

    By
  9. Plants

    Scientists Say: Nectar

    Nectar is a fluid filled with sugar that plants — especially flowers — produce. They use it to attract animals that will then spread their pollen to another plant.

    By
  10. Space

    Scientists Say: Multiverse

    The multiverse is an idea that there are many universes out there, including the one we live in. Each universe has an alternate reality.

    By
  11. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Quarantine

    This is a restriction on where people or animals who are sick — or suspected of being sick — can go. Doctors use quarantine to try to prevent a disease from spreading.

    By
  12. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Parasite

    Lots of organisms live in pairs, benefitting from each other. But when one organism benefits while the other suffers? That first organism is a parasite.

    By
Use up and down arrow keys to explore.Use right arrow key to move into the list.Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.Use tab key to enter the current list item.Use escape to exit the menu.Use the Shift key with the Tab key to tab back to the search input.