amino acids: Easy molecules that happen naturally in plant and animal tissues and which can be the fundamental constructing blocks of proteins.
common: (in science) A time period for the arithmetic imply, which is the sum of a gaggle of numbers that’s then divided by the scale of the group.
habits: The best way one thing, usually an individual or different organism, acts in direction of others, or conducts itself.
cell: (in biology) The smallest structural and useful unit of an organism. Sometimes too small to see with the unaided eye, it consists of a watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or wall. Relying on their measurement, animals are manufactured from wherever from 1000’s to trillions of cells.
chemical: A substance fashioned from two or extra atoms that unite (bond) in a set proportion and construction. For instance, water is a chemical made when two hydrogen atoms bond to 1 oxygen atom. Its chemical components is H2O. Chemical additionally might be an adjective to explain properties of supplies which can be the results of varied reactions between totally different compounds.
chemistry: The sphere of science that offers with the composition, construction and properties of gear and the way they work together. Scientists use this information to check unfamiliar substances, to breed giant portions of helpful substances or to design and create new and helpful substances.
colon: (in biology) Nearly all of the big gut, it runs between the cecum (a pouch under the small gut) and the rectum. Meals should not digested within the colon, though this tissue lubricates wastes that will probably be excreted. Some liquids and salts, nonetheless, will probably be faraway from supplies saved within the colon earlier than excretion.
focus: (in chemistry) A measurement of how a lot of 1 substance has been dissolved into one other.
contaminant: Pollutant; a chemical, organic or different substance that’s undesirable or unnatural in an setting (similar to water, soil, air, the physique or meals). Some contaminants could also be dangerous within the quantities at which they happen or if they’re allowed to construct up within the physique or setting over time.
digestive tract: The tissues and organs by which meals enter and transfer by the physique. In individuals, these organs embody the esophagus, abdomen, intestines, rectum and anus. Meals are digested — damaged down — and absorbed alongside the way in which. Any supplies not used will exit as wastes (feces and urine).
setting: The sum of the entire issues that exist round some organism or the method and the situation these issues create. Setting could consult with the climate and ecosystem wherein some animal lives, or, maybe, the temperature and humidity (and even the placement of issues within the neighborhood of an merchandise of curiosity).
fluorescent: (v. fluoresce) Adjective for one thing that’s able to absorbing and reemitting gentle. That reemitted gentle is called fluorescence.
intestine: A casual time period for the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the intestines.
marine: Having to do with the ocean world or setting.
marker: (in biomedicine) The presence of some substance that normally can solely be current as a result of it alerts some illness, pollutant or occasion (such because the attachment of some stain or molecular flag). As such, this substance will function an indication — or marker — of that associated factor.
microbead: A small particle of plastic, normally between 0.05 millimeters and 5 millimeters in measurement. These particles might be present in exfoliating face wash, however may also take the type of fibers shed from clothes.
microplastic: A small piece of plastic, 5 millimeters (0.2 inch) or smaller in measurement. Microplastics could have been produced at that small measurement, or their measurement could also be the results of the breakdown of water bottles, plastic luggage or different issues that started off bigger.
mannequin: A simulation of a real-world occasion (normally utilizing a pc) that has been developed to foretell a number of probably outcomes. Or a person that’s meant to show how one thing would work in or look on others.
plastic: Any of a sequence of supplies which can be simply deformable; or artificial supplies which were produced from polymers (lengthy strings of some building-block molecule) that are typically light-weight, cheap and proof against degradation. (adj.) A cloth that is ready to adapt by altering form or presumably even altering its perform.
coverage: A plan, acknowledged tips or agreed-upon guidelines of motion to use in sure particular circumstances. As an illustration, a faculty may have a coverage on when to allow snow days or what number of excused absences it could permit a pupil in a given 12 months.
pollutant: A substance that taints one thing — such because the air, water, our our bodies or merchandise. Some pollution are chemical compounds, similar to pesticides. Others could also be radiation, together with extra warmth or gentle. Even weeds and different invasive species might be thought of a sort of organic air pollution.
polystyrene: A plastic produced from chemical compounds which were refined (produced from) crude oil and/or pure gasoline. Polystyrene is likely one of the most generally used plastics, and an ingredient used to make a extensively used white, inflexible foam (usually offered underneath the identify Styrofoam).
residue: A remnant or materials that’s left behind after one thing has been eliminated. As an illustration, residues of paint could stay behind after somebody makes an attempt to sand a chunk of wooden; or sticky residues of adhesive tape could stay on the pores and skin after a bandage is eliminated; or residues of chemical compounds could stay within the blood after publicity to a pollutant.
danger: The possibility or mathematical probability that some dangerous factor may occur. As an illustration, publicity to radiation poses a danger of most cancers. Or the hazard — or peril — itself. (As an illustration: Amongst most cancers dangers that the individuals confronted have been radiation and ingesting water tainted with arsenic.)
resolution: A liquid wherein one chemical has been dissolved into one other.
poisonous: Toxic or capable of hurt or kill cells, tissues or entire organisms. The measure of danger posed by such a poison is its toxicity.
triclosan: A germ-killing chemical added to some widespread merchandise similar to hand soaps and sponges.
weathering: The method of breaking down rocks, soil and chemical compounds (similar to crude oil). Weathering additionally might be chemical, similar to by oxidation (rust), or mechanical, similar to by water, ice or wind.