Scientists Say

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

  1. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Hyperthermia

    If our body temperatures rise too high, we can suffer from hyperthermia.

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  2. Animals

    Scientists Say: Torpor

    When an animal enters torpor, its body temperature goes down and so does the amount of energy it uses.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Frostbite

    As we get cold, the blood vessels near our skin constrict to keep body heat in. But in the process, they leave some tissues in danger of frostbite.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Hypothermia

    Our bodies need to stay warm to function correctly. If our temperature drops too much, we can suffer from hypothermia.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Bruxism

    Some people clench their jaw when their stressed. People who do it a lot may have bruxism.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Tinnitus

    Ever had ringing in your ears? Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear a persistent sound that isn’t there.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Insulin

    This chemical is a lifesaver. It helps our bodies use the sugars from our food, and without it, people develop diabetes.

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  8. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Sublimation

    Matter doesn’t always go from solid to liquid to gas. Sometimes it skips a step.

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  9. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Surface tension

    Surface tension is what makes water in your glass seem like it’s covered by an invisible membrane holding it together.

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  10. Genetics

    Scientists Say: eDNA

    Animals may escape traps or nets, but they often leave DNA behind in their environment, giving scientists important clues.

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  11. Physics

    Scientists Say: Diffraction

    When liquid hits something it spatters, when light hits something, it scatters. The process is called diffraction.

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  12. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Unsaturated fat

    These fats are found in foods like olive oil. It’s their special bonds that make them go with the flow.

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