3-D: Short for three-dimensional. This term is an adjective for something that has features that can be described in three dimensions — height, width and length.
align: (noun: alignment) To place or organize things in a patterned order, following an apparent line.
angle: The space (usually measured in degrees) between two intersecting lines or surfaces at or close to the point where they meet.
astronomer: A scientist who works in the field of research that deals with celestial objects, space and the physical universe.
astrophysics: An area of astronomy that deals with understanding the physical nature of stars and other objects in space. People who work in this field are known as astrophysicists.
atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding Earth, another planet or a moon.
computer model: A program that runs on a computer that creates a model, or simulation, of a real-world feature, phenomenon or event.
computer program: A set of instructions that a computer uses to perform some analysis or computation. The writing of these instructions is known as computer programming.
corona: (in astronomy) The outermost layer of the atmosphere surrounding the sun (and other stars). The sun’s corona is normally visible only during a total solar eclipse, when it is seen as an irregularly shaped, pearly glow surrounding the darkened disk of the moon.
density: The measure of how condensed some object is, found by dividing its mass by its volume.
develop: To emerge or to make come into being, either naturally or through human intervention, such as by manufacturing.
illusion: A thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses.
journal: (in science) A publication in which scientists share their research findings with experts (and sometimes even the public). Some journals publish papers from all fields of science, technology, engineering and math, while others are specific to a single subject. Peer-reviewed journals are the gold standard: They send all submitted articles to outside experts to be read and critiqued. The goal, here, is to prevent the publication of mistakes, fraud or work that is not novel or convincingly demonstrated.
life cycle: The succession of stages that occur as an organism grows, develops, reproduces — and then eventually ages and dies. Or the sum of all processes involved in creating a product, starting with the extraction of raw materials and ending with the disposal of the product when it’s no longer useful. Indeed, engineers describe this as the cradle-to-grave life of a product.
magnet: A material that usually contains iron and whose atoms are arranged so they attract certain metals.
magnetic field: An area of influence created by certain materials, called magnets, or by the movement of electric charges.
model: A simulation of a real-world event (usually using a computer) that has been developed to predict one or more likely outcomes.
physicist: A scientist who studies the nature and properties of matter and energy.
plasma: (in chemistry and physics) A gaseous state of matter in which electrons separate from the atom. A plasma includes both positively and negatively charged particles.
simulate: To deceive in some way by imitating the form or function of something. A simulated sense of touch may fool the brain into thinking a finger has touched something even though a hand may no longer exists and has been replaced by a synthetic limb. (in computing) To try and imitate the conditions, functions or appearance of something. Computer programs that do this are referred to as simulations.
simulation: (v. simulate) An analysis, often made using a computer, of some conditions, functions or appearance of a physical system. A computer program would do this by using mathematical operations that can describe the system and how it might change over time or in response to different anticipated situations.
solar: Having to do with the sun or the radiation it emits. It comes from sol, Latin for sun.
solar flare: An explosive event that takes place on the sun when energy that has built up in ‘twisted’ magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) becomes suddenly released. The energy can in minutes heat to many millions of degrees, emitting a burst of energy. That energy consists of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from gamma rays to radio waves.
star: The basic building block from which galaxies are made. Stars develop when gravity compacts clouds of gas. When they become hot enough, stars will emit light and sometimes other forms of electromagnetic radiation. The sun is our closest star.
trait: A characteristic feature of something. (in genetics) A quality or characteristic that can be inherited.
turbulent: (n. turbulence) An adjective for the unpredictable fluctuation of a fluid (including air) in which its velocity varies irregularly instead of maintaining a steady or calm flow.
