Our universe is unfathomably huge and getting bigger all of the time, according to the Big Bang model and the theory of universe expansion. That’s a pretty cool concept and term, right? As the theory goes, dark energy (more on this later) is causing the universe to continually stretch itself. Studying the universe introduces us to some fascinating concepts in general: black holes, rogue planets, …
All living things are made up of cells. However, cells are different when considering plant or animal cells. In this article, we will examine some common differences between plant and animal cells. animal cell vs. plant cell In biology, a cell is the smallest structural unit of living things. Everything that is alive is made of at least one cell. Within many cells are small …
The terms element and compound are commonly used in chemistry. If you need a simple explanation of what these terms mean, we have your solution. In this article, we will define the terms element and compound and explain how they are used differently in chemistry. element vs. compound An element is a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means. An element …
Information pollution, jawn, decision fatigue, jolabokaflod, grandfamily, NIL, algo, amalgagender. Unbox the new terms and meanings just added to Dictionary.com. by Nick Norlen, Senior Editor, and Grant Barrett, Head of Lexicography Our fall new words drop is here! The words don’t stop coming, so we’re updating the dictionary more frequently than ever. And not just with any words: this update includes an incredibly useful concentration …
The words mass and weight are used both in physics and outside of it to describe how large (mass) or heavy (weight) something is. While these words are often used interchangeably outside of scientific contexts, they do refer to different things. In this article, we will define the words mass and weight, explain how they are used in science to measure different quantities, and discuss …
Nothing gets our blood pumping like using the dictionary and thesaurus to find cool new words. (Such excitement!) But we’ve got to keep those beats under control, as we’re about to share a medical term you may want to know. If you’re the kind of person who must keep a finger on the pulse of fancy medical jargon, then take a look below! In medicine, …
The terms astronomy and astrology are commonly confused, which isn’t surprising, considering they both involve studying the stars and both begin with the combining form astro- (referring to stars or celestial bodies). However, only one of these star-gazing terms refers to a recognized branch of science. In this article, we will state the difference between astronomy and astrology, explain why only one is considered a …
Hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic are three words that are commonly used in science. Specifically, they are used to explain how water will flow between two different chemical solutions. Solutions with a lot of stuff in them, such as saltwater, are often referred to as hypertonic while plain ol’ water is said to be hypotonic. But what does this really mean? In this article, we will …
While new words can make us swoon, they are unlikely to cause us to faint or lose consciousness. But as word lovers we can examine the word faint itself. What exactly is fainting, and what is the more formal medical term for it? In medicine, the term syncope is used to refer to fainting. Generally, this term is used to specifically refer to the act …
When it comes to disease, we’re more and more aware of symptoms, prevention, treatments, and long-term effects. But there’s another, often less-considered factor that can have far-reaching consequences for public health: a disease’s name. What we call a disease—both popularly and officially—can affect how people perceive it, whether they understand how its spread can be prevented, and whether they seek treatment for it. The fact …
The words homogeneous and heterogeneous are often used in scientific contexts to describe kinds of mixtures, but they can be also used in other ways, such as to describe groups of people. But what do they actually mean, and what is the difference? In this article, we’ll define homogeneous and heterogeneous, break down the differences between them, and provide some examples of the different things …