[noun - seismology & plate tectonics] A compression wave produced by an earthquake. The “P” is from the Italian “primero,” indicating that the P-waves were the first to arrive at seismic stations.

• Appears in modules:

• Earth Structure

[adjective - organisms] Related to the scientific discipline that combines paleontology with biology.

• Appears in modules:

• Craig Lee

[noun - organisms] A scientific discipline that focuses on fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms, combining the fields of biology and paleontology.

[noun - seismology & plate tectonics] The history of reversals in polarity of the earth’s magnetic field, as recorded in magnetic minerals within igneous rocks.

• Appears in modules:

• Origins of Plate Tectonic Theory

[person] (July 1743 - 25 May 1805) British philosopher who sought to present a rational basis for the Christian faith. He is best remembered for his last book, Natural Theology; or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, which was published in 1802. This work argues that God's design of the world is proven by the general happiness and well-being evident in the physical and social order of the world. He developed the now infamous "watchmaker analogy," in which he argues that just as one can infer the existence of a watchmaker from a watch, one can infer the existence of a creator from the existence of the world.

• Appears in modules:

• Adaptation

[noun - seismology & plate tectonics] The supercontinent which existed from about 300-200 million years ago. During this time, all of the continents were gathered into a single land mass.

• Appears in modules:

• Origins of Plate Tectonic Theory
• Plates, Plate Boundaries, and Driving Forces

[noun - organisms] The literal meaning is “seeds everywhere." A hypothesis that life on Earth began as seedlings that arrived through space from other worlds. First hypothesized by Anaxagoras (510–428 BCE), variations of panspermia have been revived in modern times.

• Appears in modules:

• Origins of Life I

[noun - statistics] In statistics, a parameter is a numerical value that represents a characteristic of a statistical population. Contrast with statistic.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory III
• Atomic Theory IV
• Confidence Intervals
• Description in Scientific Research
• Energy
• Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Introduction to Inferential Statistics
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence

[noun - organisms, taxonomy & systematics] An organism that lives on or in a host organism of another species. Parasites derive their food from and are detrimental to the host. Several examples of parasite-host relationships are: fleas living parasitically on mammals; mistletoe living parasitically on trees; the protozoan Plasmodium living parasitically in humans, for whom it causes malaria.

• Appears in modules:

• Adaptation
• Biodiversity I

[noun - genetics & inheritance, taxonomy & systematics, materials science] The material or source from which something is derived.

• Appears in modules:

• Animal Behavior
• Atomic Theory II
• Barbara McClintock
• Cell Division I
• Cell Division II
• César Milstein
• Charles Darwin III
• Creativity in Science
• David Ho
• Description in Scientific Research
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• DNA III
• Ellen Ochoa
• Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Exponential Equations in Science I
• Gene Expression
• Light I
• Mendel and Independent Assortment
• Mendel and Inheritance
• Meselson and Stahl
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Properties of Solids
• Sergio Avila
• The Silicate Minerals
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence
• Using Graphs and Visual Data in Science
• Y-Chromsome and Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes

[noun - scientific concepts] The concept that the simplest explanation that fits all of the data is the most likely (and therefore the best) explanation. In different disciplines, the most parsimonious explanation may require the fewest assumptions, the fewest number of steps in a process, or the fewest interacting components in a system. Related to Ockham's Razor.

• Appears in modules:

• Data Analysis and Interpretation

[noun - scientific concepts] A principle in science and philosophy that suggests that the simplest of two or more compatible theories is generally preferable to explain a phenomenon. Related to Ockham's Razor.

[noun] A tiny piece of matter.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory I
• Atomic Theory II
• Atomic Theory III
• Atomic Theory IV
• Chemical Bonding
• Chemical Equations
• David Ho
• Diffusion I
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• Early Ideas about Matter
• Energy
• Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Factors that Control Earth's Temperature
• Factors that Control Regional Climate
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Introduction to Descriptive Statistics
• Kinetic-Molecular Theory
• Light and Electromagnetism
• Light I
• Luis Walter Alvarez
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Properties of Liquids
• Properties of Solids
• Solutions, Solubility, and Colligative Properties
• Stoichiometry
• The Mole and Atomic Mass
• The Nitrogen Cycle
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence
• Waves and Wave Motion

[person - calculus, fluid mechanics & hydraulics] French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher born in Clermont, France (1623 - 1662 CE). Pascal made contributions toward the development of mechanical calculators and the study of fluids and pressure. His writings contributed to the development of the scientific method; and along with Pierre de Fermat he laid the foundations of probability theory which led to development of statistical methods. For further information see our module Statistics in Scientific Research.

• Appears in modules:

• Statistics in Science

[cells, medicine, research methods, scientific concepts] A French chemist and biologist, born in Dole, France (1822-1895). Pasteur founded the science of microbiology and proved that microorganisms cause most infectious diseases. He also invented the process of pasteurization, made significant contributions to the science of brewing and winemaking, and developed vaccines for rabies and anthrax.

• Appears in modules:

• César Milstein
• David Ho
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• DNA I
• Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Luis E. Miramontes
• Mendel and Inheritance
• Origins of Life I
• Scientists and the Scientific Community
• The Practice of Science

[noun] A document issued by the government that grants an inventor the sole right to his or her invention for a set length of time, thus protecting an inventor from theft of the idea.

• Appears in modules:

• Ellen Ochoa
• Light I
• Luis E. Miramontes
• Percy Lavon Julian
• Ruth Benerito
• Scientific Ethics

[adjective - genetics & inheritance] Derived from or related to one's father.

• Appears in modules:

• César Milstein
• Luis Walter Alvarez
• Population Genetics

[noun - atoms & subatomic particles, laws & theories, atoms & subatomic particles, modern physics] Principle developed by Wolfgang Pauli (1925) that states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four, quantum numbers. This implies that a maximum of two electrons can reside at any given quantum level only if they possess opposite values for spin.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory III
• Atomic Theory IV

[person - atoms & subatomic particles, atoms & subatomic particles] Austrian born theoretical physicist and pioneer in the quantum physics field. Known particularly for the Pauli exclusion principle, for which he was awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physics.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory III

[person - medicine, matter, organic & biochemistry] (February 28, 1901 - August 19, 1994) An American chemist, peace activist, author, and educator. Pauling was a pioneer in the fields of quantum chemistry and molecular biology, and is considered one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. He is a Nobel laureate in both Chemistry and Peace. One of Pauling's most important contributions to molecular biology was his work in 1949 showing that sickle cell anemia is caused by an abnormal protein. Pauling is also remembered, with both praise and criticsm, for his later work with vitamin C as a disease cure and preventative. He founded the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, now part of Oregon State University, which researched micronutrients, phytochemicals, and other aspects of diet in controlling and preventing disease.

• Appears in modules:

• Chemical Bonding
• DNA II

[person - statistics, data, research methods, scientific concepts] English statistician and geneticist born in London, England (1857-1936). Pearson is credited with establishing the field of mathematical statistics. His landmark book Grammar of Science discussed the importance that probability and correlation have in scientific research, and had a profound impact on many scientists including Albert Einstein. He refined the statistical concept of correlation and introduced the concepts of regression and the chi-square test.

• Appears in modules:

• Confidence Intervals
• Introduction to Descriptive Statistics
• The Practice of Science
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence

[noun - ethics, science communication] The process of subjecting scholarly work, research or ideas to the scrutiny of others who are experts in the same field (aka, peers). For further information see our module Peer Review in Scientific Publishing.

• Appears in modules:

• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Louis Tompkins Wright
• Peer Review in Scientific Publishing
• Scientific Ethics
• Scientific Institutions and Societies
• Scientists and the Scientific Community
• The How and Why of Scientific Meetings
• The Nature of Scientific Knowledge
• Understanding Scientific Journals and Articles
• Utilizing the Scientific Literature

[noun - biomolecules, compounds] A short polymer (~2-10 units) of amino acids.

• Appears in modules:

• Fats and Proteins

[noun - rocks & minerals] A rock composed primarily of the mineral olivine. The high percentage of iron and magnesium in olivine creates a very dense rock. Peridotite is the main rock within the mantle.

• Appears in modules:

• Earth Structure

[noun - elements] A row of elements in the periodic table.

• Appears in modules:

• Animal Behavior
• Atomic Theory IV
• Biodiversity I
• Carlos J. Finlay
• César Milstein
• Charles Darwin II
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• The Periodic Table of Elements
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence
• Waves and Wave Motion

[acids, bases & pH] A symbol representing a measure of the effective concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution, pH = -log [H⁺]. pH is a measure of the acidity (or basicity) of a solution, where values of 0 to 14 are possible. Acid solutions have a pH < 7, basic solutions have pH > 7, neutral solutions have pH = 7.

• Appears in modules:

• Absorption, Distribution, and Storage of Chemicals
• Acids and Bases I
• Acids and Bases II
• Confidence Intervals
• Ellen Ochoa
• Lipids
• Origins of Life II

[noun - genetics & inheritance] The appearance of an organism resulting from the interaction of the genotype and the environment. Simply, what physical traits the organism expresses.

• Appears in modules:

• Mendel and Independent Assortment
• Mendel and Inheritance

[noun - biomolecules, functional groups] A lipid or glyceride that contains a phosphate group. The phosphate group imparts a polar side to the molecule, while the lipid end remains relatively non-polar. Phospholipids are the main form of lipid in cell membranes.

• Appears in modules:

• Absorption, Distribution, and Storage of Chemicals
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• Membranes I
• The Phosphorus Cycle

[noun - biomolecules, organisms, chemical reactions] Formation of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (as water) in the chlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed to light.

• Appears in modules:

• Biodiversity I
• Cellular Organelles I
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Kevin Arrigo
• Light and Electromagnetism
• Luis Walter Alvarez
• Photosynthesis I
• The Carbon Cycle

[verb - anatomy & physiology, cells, nutrition, organisms, biodiversity & ecological relationships, energy resources, natural resources, nutrient cycles, organisms] The act of performing photosynthesis.

• Appears in modules:

• Cellular Organelles I
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Kevin Arrigo
• The Phosphorus Cycle

[verb - biomolecules, organisms, chemical reactions] The act of conducting photosynthesis.

• Appears in modules:

• Cellular Organelles I
• Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• The Phosphorus Cycle

[noun - evolution & adaptation, genetics & inheritance] The evolutionary history of a group of organisms, or the sequence of events in the evolutionary development of a group of organisms. Phylogeny can also indicate the diagram or depiction of that history, sometimes called an evolutionary tree.

• Appears in modules:

• Charles Darwin III

[noun - cells, evolution & adaptation, organisms, taxonomy & systematics, hydrology & fresh water, oceanography, biodiversity & ecological relationships, bioregions, biomes & ecosystems, nutrient cycles, organisms] Microscopic plants, such as algae, that float freely in the water column of an aquatic system (e.g., lake, ocean).

• Appears in modules:

• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Kevin Arrigo
• The Carbon Cycle
• The Phosphorus Cycle

[noun - biomolecules, organic & biochemistry] A light-absorbing molecule that gathers energy from the sun; a molecule that gives color and is involved in vital functions within an organism.

• Appears in modules:

• Defining Minerals
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• Gene Expression
• Lipids
• Photosynthesis I

[noun - organisms] In humans, the natural coloration of skin, hair, and eyes caused by the presence pigment molecules.

[noun - atoms & subatomic particles, energy, atoms & subatomic particles, energy, modern physics] A physical constant used in quantum mechanics that relates the energy and frequency of particles, and also the wavelength and the momentum of particles. Given the symbol h, it was developed in 1900 by German physicist Max Planck.

[person - atoms & subatomic particles, elements, matter, physical & chemical properties, atoms & subatomic particles, light & optics, matter, modern physics] Theoretical physicist, born in Kiel, Germany (1858–1947), who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918 for his research on quantum theory. Through his study of thermodynamics, Planck devised the theory that energy did not flow continuously, but was radiated in packets called quanta. Albert Einstein applied Planck's quantum theory to the photoelectric effect, while Niels Bohr applied the theory to the atom.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory I
• Atomic Theory II
• Atomic Theory III
• Y-Chromsome and Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes

[noun - biomolecules, cells] The semi-permeable layer of tissue enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell. The plasma membrane separates and protects the cell's interior from the exterior environment and controls what passes into and out of the cell.

• Appears in modules:

• Cellular Organelles I
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• Membranes I
• Membranes II

[noun - seismology & plate tectonics] A place where two or more tectonic plates meet and interact. Plate boundaries can be convergent, divergent, or transform boundaries, depending on which direction the plates are moving.

• Appears in modules:

• Plates, Plate Boundaries, and Driving Forces
• The Phosphorus Cycle
• The Rock Cycle

[noun - seismology & plate tectonics] The study of the processes by which the earth's crust has attained its present structure.

• Appears in modules:

• Earth Structure
• Origins of Plate Tectonic Theory
• Plates, Plate Boundaries, and Driving Forces
• Scientific Controversy
• The Rock Cycle
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Utilizing the Scientific Literature

[adjective] Carrying an electrical charge.

• Appears in modules:

• Acids and Bases II
• Chemical Bonding
• Factors that Control Regional Climate
• Lipids
• Membranes II
• Origins of Life II
• Properties of Liquids
• Scientists and the Scientific Community
• Solutions, Solubility, and Colligative Properties
• The Hydrologic Cycle
• Water

[noun - atmospheric science, weather & climate] The atmospheric circulation cell that operates at high latitudes. Cold, dry air descends over the north and south poles and flows towards the equator, meeting warmer air around 60° and rising.

[noun - atoms & subatomic particles, compounds, physical & chemical properties] A covalent bond in which electrons are unequally shared between bonding atoms. A polar covalent bond is formed when one atom participating has a stronger affinity for electrons, or electronegativity, than its bonding partner. A polar bond will result in an equal distribution of electron charge across the bonding pair. Compare to polar covalent molecule.

• Appears in modules:

• Properties of Liquids

[noun - atoms & subatomic particles, compounds, physical & chemical properties] A molecule that has an unequal distribution of bonding electrons, which results in an asymmetrical electrical charge (or dipole) across the molecule. Polar molecules are formed when polar covalent bonds are oriented so that the molecule contains a partially charged positive end and negative end. As a result of the uneven electrical charge, polar molecules are commonly attracted to each other by dipole-dipole interactions. Polar molecules often dissociate in water to form electrolytes. Compare to ionic compound.

[noun - atoms & subatomic particles, compounds, physical & chemical properties] Refer to polar covalent molecule.

• Appears in modules:

• Chemical Bonding
• Membranes II

[noun - physical & chemical properties] The directionality of a magnetic field, which consists of a north and south pole of equal and opposite strength. Lines of magnetic force emanate from the north pole and terminate at the south pole. When the earth's magnetic north pole corresponds with the geographic north pole (as it does now), the polarity of the magnetic field is normal; when the magnetic north pole corresponds with the geographic south pole, the polarity of the field is reversed.

• Appears in modules:

• Chemical Bonding
• Origins of Plate Tectonic Theory
• Properties of Solids

[noun - anatomy & physiology, organisms] Gamete of a flowering plant, similar to sperm cells in mammalian organisms.

• Appears in modules:

• Adaptation
• Barbara McClintock
• Craig Lee
• Diffusion I
• Mendel and Inheritance

[verb - anatomy & physiology, organisms] To fertilize (in plants). Plants may be self-pollinating, or may need a pollinator to transfer pollen to the stigma, thus fertilizing the plant. Pollinators include insects, birds, small mammals, and the wind. The type of pollinator needed by a given plant is often very specific.

• Appears in modules:

• Mendel and Independent Assortment
• Mendel and Inheritance

[noun - atoms & subatomic particles, materials science, physical & chemical properties] A large molecule consisting of recurring units of a smaller molecule. A polymer can be thought of as a molecular chain, in which small molecules called monomers form the links.

• Appears in modules:

• Carbohydrates
• DNA I
• DNA II
• DNA III
• Fats and Proteins
• Ruth Benerito
• Scientific Institutions and Societies
• The Silicate Minerals

[noun - compounds, materials science, matter, physical & chemical properties] One of a number of crystal structures a compound can form. Polymorphic compounds include silica, which can form various types of quartz, and calcium carbonate, which can form two minerals, calcite and aragonite. Not all compounds are polymorphic.

• Appears in modules:

• Properties of Solids

[noun - statistics] In biology, the population is all individuals of a certain kind of plant or animal that live in a particular habitat. In statistics, a population is the complete set of possible observations that can be made. For example, if a scientist is studying the beak sizes of finches in the Galapagos Islands, the population is the beak sizes of all of the finches in the Galapagos. If a scientist is studying the age distribution in Brazil, then the population is the set of ages of all the people living in Brazil. Contrast with subsample.

• Appears in modules:

• Adaptation
• Animal Behavior
• Biodiversity I
• Carlos J. Finlay
• Charles Darwin II
• Charles Darwin III
• Confidence Intervals
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Description in Scientific Research
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• DNA III
• Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Exponential Equations in Science I
• Exponential Equations in Science II
• Fabiola León-Velarde
• Future of Human Evolution
• Introduction to Descriptive Statistics
• Introduction to Inferential Statistics
• Linear Equations in Science
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Population Genetics
• Scientists and the Scientific Community
• Sergio Avila
• Statistics in Science
• Stoichiometry
• The Nitrogen Cycle
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence
• Y-Chromsome and Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes

[noun - scientific tools & techniques, research methods] In science, a positive control refers to a system that is exposed to a treatment with a known effect. Thus, the positive control helps to establish that a response will occur, or provides a measure of the response of a variable to a known treatment. For more information, see our module Experimentation in Scientific Research.

• Appears in modules:

• Experimentation in Scientific Research

[noun - energy, forces, thermodynamics] The energy an object possesses by virtue of its position in relation to a field of force. For example, lifting a mass m by h meters increases its potential energy by m·g·h, where g is the acceleration due to gravity.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory IV
• Energy

[noun - matter, physical & chemical properties] A solid or otherwise insoluble product that is formed by a chemical reaction occuring in a liquid solution.

• Appears in modules:

• Chemical Equations
• Chemical Reactions
• DNA III
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• The Carbon Cycle
• The Rock Cycle

[noun - weather & climate, weather & climate] Water that falls from the atmosphere to the ground in any form, such as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.

• Appears in modules:

• Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
• Defining Minerals
• Factors that Control Regional Climate
• Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Camillo Golgi
• The Carbon Cycle
• The Hydrologic Cycle
• The Rock Cycle

[noun - scientific tools & techniques, research methods] In science, precision refers to the degree of specified detail which can be expressed in a value. For example, a value expressed to three decimal places can be considered more precise than one made to two places. The determination of precision is a function of the degree to which individual measurements vary around a central value. Values with high precision are highly reproducible because repeated measurement will reliably give a similar result; however, they may or may not be accurate. Precision relates to the statistical error associated with a value. Compare to accuracy. See the module Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory II
• Confidence Intervals
• Introduction to Inferential Statistics
• Luis Walter Alvarez
• Properties of Minerals
• Temperature
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence
• Utilizing the Scientific Literature

[verb - organisms] Cleaning or grooming.

• Appears in modules:

• Adaptation
• The Carbon Cycle

[noun - oceanography, weather & climate] a wind from the direction that is strongest at a particular place or season

[person - atoms & subatomic particles, matter, physical & chemical properties] English chemist, natural philosopher and theologian, born in Yorkshire (1733-1804). He is most frequently noted for discovering oxygen. Priestly also isolated and characterized 7 additional gases, and his work furthered the scientific understanding of photosynthesis and respiration.

• Appears in modules:

• Chemical Reactions
• Early Ideas about Matter
• Photosynthesis I

[noun - biomolecules, nutrition, organisms, organic & biochemistry] The process of forming new organic material from carbon dioxide, generally through photosynthesis; the process by which plants take in carbon dioxide, water, and light to form sugar and release oxygen.

• Appears in modules:

• Kevin Arrigo

[noun - laws & theories, scientific concepts] In the sciences, a principle is a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth. For instance, one of the most basic principles in physics is the causality principle, which states that everything that happens has a direct cause.

• Appears in modules:

• Absorption, Distribution, and Storage of Chemicals
• Adaptation
• Animal Behavior
• Atomic Theory II
• Atomic Theory III
• Atomic Theory IV
• Barbara McClintock
• Bone Changes in Rock Climbers
• Carlos J. Finlay
• Cellular Organelles I
• César Milstein
• Charles Darwin I
• Charles Darwin II
• Charles Darwin III
• Chemical Bonding
• Chemical Reactions
• Comparison in Scientific Research
• Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
• Confidence Intervals
• Craig Lee
• Creativity in Science
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Description in Scientific Research
• Diffusion I
• DNA I
• DNA II
• DNA III
• Earth Structure
• Ellen Ochoa
• Energy
• Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Exponential Equations in Science I
• Exponential Equations in Science II
• Fabiola León-Velarde
• Factors that Control Regional Climate
• France Anne-Dominic Córdova
• Franklin Chang Díaz
• Gene Expression
• Gravity
• History of Earth's Atmosphere I
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Introduction to Descriptive Statistics
• Kinetic-Molecular Theory
• Light and Electromagnetism
• Light I
• Linear Equations in Science
• Mendel and Independent Assortment
• Mendel and Inheritance
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Photosynthesis I
• Properties of Gases
• Properties of Solids
• Ruth Benerito
• Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Camillo Golgi
• Scientific Controversy
• Scientific Ethics
• Scientific Institutions and Societies
• Scientists and the Scientific Community
• Sergio Avila
• Statistics in Science
• Taxonomy I
• Taxonomy II
• The Carbon Cycle
• The How and Why of Scientific Meetings
• The Nature of Scientific Knowledge
• The Nitrogen Cycle
• The Phosphorus Cycle
• The Practice of Science
• The Process of Science
• The Rock Cycle
• The Silicate Minerals
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Thermodynamics I
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence
• Understanding Scientific Journals and Articles
• Utilizing the Scientific Literature
• Wave Mathematics

[noun - statistics] The likelihood that a given event will occur. In statistics, probability is often expressed as a ratio of the number of actual occurrences of an event to the number of possible occurrences of the same event, i.e. there is a 50% probability of obtaining heads in a coin toss.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory III
• Atomic Theory IV
• Chemical Bonding
• Comparison in Scientific Research
• Confidence Intervals
• Description in Scientific Research
• Diffusion I
• Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Factors that Control Regional Climate
• Introduction to Descriptive Statistics
• Introduction to Inferential Statistics
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Peer Review in Scientific Publishing
• Statistics in Science
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence

[noun - research methods] Method, procedure; series of actions or steps.

• Appears in modules:

• Acids and Bases I
• Acids and Bases II
• Animal Behavior
• Atomic Theory IV
• Blood Biology I
• Cell Division I
• Cell Division II
• Cellular Organelles I
• César Milstein
• Charles Darwin I
• Charles Darwin II
• Charles Darwin III
• Chemical Bonding
• Chemical Equations
• Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
• Confidence Intervals
• Craig Lee
• Creativity in Science
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Description in Scientific Research
• Diffusion I
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• DNA III
• Early Ideas about Matter
• Earth Structure
• Energy Metabolism I
• Energy Metabolism II
• Exponential Equations in Science I
• Exponential Equations in Science II
• Factors that Control Earth's Temperature
• France Anne-Dominic Córdova
• Future of Human Evolution
• Gene Expression
• History of Earth's Atmosphere I
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Introduction to Inferential Statistics
• Introduction to Paleoanthropology
• Kevin Arrigo
• Light I
• Linear Equations in Science
• Lipids
• Louis Tompkins Wright
• Luis E. Miramontes
• Luis Walter Alvarez
• Membranes I
• Membranes II
• Meselson and Stahl
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Origins of Life I
• Origins of Life II
• Origins of Plate Tectonic Theory
• Peer Review in Scientific Publishing
• Percy Lavon Julian
• Photosynthesis I
• Properties of Liquids
• Ruth Benerito
• Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Camillo Golgi
• Scientific Controversy
• Scientific Ethics
• Scientific Institutions and Societies
• Scientific Notation and Order of Magnitude
• Scientists and the Scientific Community
• Sergio Avila
• Solutions, Solubility, and Colligative Properties
• States of Matter
• Statistics in Science
• Stoichiometry
• Taxonomy I
• The Carbon Cycle
• The How and Why of Scientific Meetings
• The Hydrologic Cycle
• The Nature of Scientific Knowledge
• The Nitrogen Cycle
• The Phosphorus Cycle
• The Piltdown Hoax
• The Practice of Science
• The Process of Science
• The Rock Cycle
• The Scientific Method
• The Silicate Minerals
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Thermodynamics I
• Understanding Scientific Journals and Articles
• Unit Conversion
• Utilizing the Scientific Literature
• Wave Mathematics
• Y-Chromsome and Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes

[noun - chemical reactions, physical & chemical properties] The material that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction. Written on the right side of a chemical equation. Compare to reactant.

• Appears in modules:

• Absorption, Distribution, and Storage of Chemicals
• Biodiversity I
• Carlos J. Finlay
• Cell Division I
• Cellular Organelles I
• Charles Darwin I
• Chemical Equations
• Chemical Reactions
• Comparison in Scientific Research
• Creativity in Science
• Diffusion I
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• Energy Metabolism I
• Factors that Control Earth's Temperature
• Gene Expression
• Gravity
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Linear Equations in Science
• Luis E. Miramontes
• Mario Molina
• Membranes I
• Mendel and Inheritance
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Photosynthesis I
• Ruth Benerito
• Scientific Institutions and Societies
• Scientists and the Scientific Community
• Statistics in Science
• The Carbon Cycle
• The Phosphorus Cycle
• The Silicate Minerals
• Theories, Hypotheses, and Laws
• Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence

[noun - genetics & inheritance, organisms] The descendant or offspring of an organism.

• Appears in modules:

• Introduction to Paleoanthropology
• Mendel and Independent Assortment
• Mendel and Inheritance

[noun - cells] An organism, generally one-celled, whose cells do not have a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria.

• Appears in modules:

• Cell Division I
• Cellular Organelles I
• Discovery and Structure of Cells

[noun - anatomy & physiology, cells] Cells that do not have a nuclei, nor any other membrane bound organelles.

• Appears in modules:

• Cellular Organelles I
• Discovery and Structure of Cells

[verb] To spread to a broader area or to multiply in number.

• Appears in modules:

• Waves and Wave Motion

[noun] A characteristic or attribute.

• Appears in modules:

• Cell Division II
• Charles Darwin III
• Defining Minerals
• Density
• Diffusion I
• DNA III
• Energy
• Introduction to Inferential Statistics
• Lipids
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Properties of Liquids
• Properties of Minerals
• Properties of Solids
• The Hydrologic Cycle

[noun - scientific tools & techniques, research methods] In science, prospective research refers to the study of events moving forward in time. Generally this is done by designing a scientific study, and tracking, observing, or evaluating the course of events within that study as they occur. For more information, see our module Comparison in Scientific Methods.

• Appears in modules:

• Comparison in Scientific Research

[noun - biomolecules] Macromolecules that are polymers of individual amino acids arranged in a chain and joined together by peptide bonds (and so also referred to as polypeptides). A minimum polymer length of approximately 40 amino acid units appears to be a functional size limit, and polymers shorter than this limit are commonly referred to as peptides. Proteins comprise approximately 50% of the dry weight of cells and fill a number of purposes, both functional and structural.

• Appears in modules:

• Absorption, Distribution, and Storage of Chemicals
• Carbohydrates
• Cell Division I
• Cell Division II
• Cellular Organelles I
• César Milstein
• Creativity in Science
• David Ho
• Discovery and Structure of Cells
• DNA I
• DNA II
• DNA III
• Energy Metabolism I
• Fabiola León-Velarde
• Fats and Proteins
• Gene Expression
• Membranes I
• Membranes II
• Percy Lavon Julian
• Photosynthesis I
• Properties of Liquids
• The Nitrogen Cycle

[noun - atoms & subatomic particles, atoms & subatomic particles] A subatomic (ß link to atom) particle with a positive charge of 1.60 × 10^-19 coulombs and a mass of 1.672 × 10^-27 kg. Protons are found in the nucleus of atoms. Compare to electron and neutron.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory II
• Atomic Theory IV
• Energy
• History of Earth's Atmosphere II
• Luis Walter Alvarez
• Membranes II
• Meselson and Stahl
• Modeling in Scientific Research
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Photosynthesis I
• Properties of Liquids
• The Periodic Table of Elements

[person - chemical reactions] French chemist, born in Angers (1754-1826). Proust proposed that the proportions of substances that combine in a given reaction are always the same. This is now known as the Law of Definite Proportions or Proust's Law.

• Appears in modules:

• Atomic Theory II
• Chemical Equations
• Early Ideas about Matter

[noun - compounds, elements, physical & chemical properties] matter with a definite composition and unique properties, including elements and compounds. For example, hydrogen and oxygen are elements but when their atoms are chemically combined as H2O, the compound water is formed.

• Appears in modules:

• Early Ideas about Matter

[person - geometry] Greek mathematician and philosopher, born in Samos (ca. 569-475 BCE). Pythagoras is best known for his proof of the Pythagorean theorem, which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right-triangle (c) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides (a and b) such that a² + b² = c². He also founded a movement called Pythagoreanism, which held everything could be both predicted and explained by mathematics.

• Appears in modules:

• The Practice of Science
• Waves and Wave Motion