Subject: Science
Terms that are genuinely used in science, regardless of where they started.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| AI n. (1973) | a sentient computer; = artificial intelligence n. |
| antimatter n. (1934) | matter composed of antiparticles |
| areologic adj. (1993) | = areological adj. |
| areologist n. (1976) | a scientist specializing in areology n. |
| artificial intelligence n. (1973) | a computer program or system capable of reasoning in a manner regarded as equivalent to a human being; a sentient computer |
| asteroid belt n. (1867) | the toroidal region of space around a star in which most asteroid orbits occur |
| asteroid field n. (1942) | a region of space in which there is a high density of asteroids; cf. asteroid belt n. |
| astrobiology n. (1941) | a branch of biology concerned with the discovery or study of life on the celestial bodies |
| astroengineering n. (1971) | large-scale structural engineering in space, esp. the modification of the physical structure or configuration of a planet, a star, or an entire solar system; cf. terraforming n.; (also) (broadly) any form of engineering in or related to space, such as the design or operation of the propulsion systems of spacecraft |
| biocomputer n. (1952) | a computer having components and circuits formed from or modelled on biological molecules or structures |
| bionic adj. (1941) | of or pertaining to bionics; having or being an artificial, esp. electromechanical, device that replaces part of the body; having ordinary human capabilities increased (as if) by the aid of such devices |
| biotechnician n. (1940) | a person, esp. a laboratory technician, involved in biotechnics or biotechnology |
| carbon-based adj. (1939) | based on the chemistry of carbon compounds (usually describing life as we know it on Earth, in contrast with with theoretical forms of life based on other chemical elements, as silicon) |
| Clarke belt n. (1981) | the ring-shaped region around the Earth containing all possible geostationary orbits |
| Clarke orbit n. (1969) | geosynchronous orbit |
| cold fusion n. (1956) | nuclear fusion taking place at temperature lower than ordinarily required, spec. at or near room temperature |
| earthshine n. (1813) | sunlight reflected from Earth (esp. as illuminating or visible on the surface of the Moon) |
| Franken- prefix (1967) | (used to form nouns in the sense ‘created or modified by scientific techniques, esp. genetic engineering’) |
| free fall n. (1931) | a condition of weightlessness |
| ftl adj. (1950) | = faster-than-light adj. |
| grav n. 2 (1939) | an earth-standard acceleration; gee n. 2 |
| graviton n. (1929) | a subatomic particle thought of as propagating the action of gravitational force |
| hypospray n. (1947) | an injection device that forces a fine, high-pressure jet of fluid through the skin without breaking it |
| Jovian adj. (1799) | of or relating to the planet Jupiter |
| light-year n. (1864) | the distance light travels in one year |
| marsquake n. (1912) | seismic activity on the surface of Mars |
| meteor storm n. (1870) | a particularly intense meteor shower, esp. occurring when the earth intercepts a meteor stream soon after the originating comet has passed; an intense encounter with a stream of meteors in space |
| moonquake n. (1847) | seismic activity on the surface of the Moon or (broadly) of any moon |
| nanobot n. (1989) | a nanoscale self-propelled machine, esp. one that has some degree of autonomy and can reproduce |
| nanotechnological adj. (1986) | resulting from developments in nanotechnology; of or relating to nanotechnology |
| nanotechnology n. (1974) | the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of 0.1 to 100 nanometres, or, generally, with the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules |
| neural adj. (1951) | connected directly to the nervous system; relating to or designating an interface between an electronic device and the nervous system |
| neutronium n. (1930) | an extremely dense material composed entirely of free neutrons |
| orbital tower n. (1975) | a structure linking a planet, moon, etc., with a space station or satellite which is in stationary orbit around it; cf. skyhook n. 4 |
| outer space n. (1842) | the region of space beyond Earth’s atmosphere or beyond the solar system; in extended use: a place or region beyond the usual limits of awareness or accessibility |
| planetless adj. (1929) | of a star: having no orbiting planets; (occasionally, of people) having no home planet; homeless in space |
| planetquake n. (1887) | seismic activity on the surface of a planet, especially one other than Earth |
| Planet X n. (1976) | (an arbitrary designation for) an unknown or hypothetical alien planet |
| ringwall n. (1942) | a roughly circular ring of cliffs or mountains surrounding an area such as an impact crater or a lunar mare |
| robotics n. (1941) | the technology or science of the design, construction, operation, and use of robots and similar automatic devices |
| rocket-ship n. (1925) | a spacecraft powered by rockets |
| spacecraft n. (1929) | any vehicle designed to travel in space |
| space elevator n. (1975) | any of various proposed structures extending from the earth upwards for many miles as a means of transporting materials into space, esp. one consisting of a tether linked to a geosynchronous satellite orbiting the earth; cf. orbital tower n. |
| spaceship n. (1880) | a spacecraft; esp. a manned one under the control of its crew |
| space station n. (1930) | a large artificial satellite used as a long-term base for operations in space |
| stellar cartography n. (1883) | a branch of cartography concerned with astronomical objects; (occas. cap.) an organizational unit or work area devoted to this; cf. astrogation n. |
| superluminal adj. (1959) | having or being a speed greater than that of light; (also) designating an engine, etc., that can produce such a speed |
| superluminally adv. (1975) | at a superluminal speed; faster than light |
| Venusian adj. (1872) | of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the planet Venus or its inhabitants |
| worm n. (1975) | a program designed to sabotage a computer or computer network; spec. a self-duplicating program which can operate without becoming incorporated into another program |