Activated Charcoal: (also known as activated carbon): A form of carbon that comes in powder or small granules. It is used to eliminate anything that can cause harm, odor, or bad taste. Impurities adhere to carbon. As the particle size decreases, the surface area of the carbon increases. Like sponges, rough grain surfaces have many pores that allow more impurities to adhere to.
Algae: A single-celled organism that was once thought to be a plant. These aquatic creatures grow underwater and, like green plants, rely on sunlight to create their food.
Algal Blooms: Rapid and largely uncontrolled growth of various aquatic species in waterways that experience sudden nutrient influx. They are commonly referred to as algal blooms. However, not all algal blooms actually contain algae. Some are caused by bacteria, while others are caused by protists known as dinoflagellates.
Atom: The basic unit of chemical elements. Atoms are composed of dense nuclei containing positively charged protons and uncharged neutrons. The nucleus is orbited by clouds of negatively charged electrons.
Average: (In science) the term for arithmetic mean. This is the sum of a group of numbers divided by the size of the group.
Bacteria: (Singular: Bacterium) A single-celled organism that lives almost everywhere on Earth, from the depths of the ocean to the interiors of other organisms. Bacteria are one of the three domains of life on Earth.
Bloom: (in microbiology) rapid and largely uncontrolled growth of species, such as nutrient-rich waterway algae. Such blooms are often referred to as algal blooms. However, not all algal blooms actually contain algae. Some are caused by bacteria, while others are caused by protists known as dinoflagellates.
Carbon: A chemical element that is the foundation of all life on Earth. Carbon exists freely as graphite and diamond. It is an important component of coal, limestone, petroleum, and can form molecules of chemical, biological, and commercial importance.
Chemicals: Substances formed from two or more atoms that bond in fixed proportions and structures. For example, water is a chemical created when two hydrogen atoms bond to one oxygen atom.
Compounds: (often used as a synonym for chemicals) A compound is a substance formed when two or more chemical elements bond in a fixed ratio. For example, water is a compound made of two hydrogen atoms bound to one oxygen atom. The chemical symbol is H2O.
Contaminants: Pollutants; chemical, biological, or other substances that are undesirable or unnatural in the environment (water, soil, air, body, food, etc.). Some contaminants can be harmful depending on their concentration or if they accumulate in the body or environment over time.
Dead Zone: An area of open water where oxygen-dependent organisms cannot survive due to very low oxygen levels.
DEET: Abbreviation for diethyltoluamide (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). It is one of the most common active ingredients in insect repellents.
Downstream: Further along in the direction the stream flows, or in the direction the water flows towards a lake or the ocean.
Engineer: Individuals who use science and mathematics to solve problems. As a verb, to engineer means to design a device, material, or process that solves a problem or meets a need.
Fertilizer: Provides essential chemical nutrients for growth (in agriculture and horticulture). These nutrients are considered fertilizers.
Field: Research field: Her research field is biology. It is also a term that describes the real-world environment where research is conducted, such as seas, forests, mountain peaks, and city streets. This is in contrast to artificial environments such as labs.
Gypsum: A common mineral often used as fertilizer, chalk, and in gypsum board. It is typically found in drywall used for constructing interior walls and ceilings.
Hormone: (in zoology and medicine) Chemicals produced in glands that are transported to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Hormones control many important physiological activities, such as growth. Hormones work by initiating or regulating chemical reactions in the body. (in botany) A chemical that acts as a signaling compound, instructing plant cells when and how to develop, mature, and senesce.
Lagoon: Small bodies of seawater (often shallow) enclosed from the open ocean by sand bars, coral reefs, or narrow land formations.
Lime: (In Earth Sciences) A caustic white alkaline substance made from calcium oxide. It is produced by heating limestone.
Microbiologist: Scientists who study microorganisms, the infectious diseases they may cause, or how they interact with their environment.
Nitrate: An ion formed by nitrogen atoms bonded to three oxygen atoms. The term is also used as a general name for various compounds formed by such combinations of atoms.
Nitrogen: A colorless, odorless, non-reactive gaseous element that makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere. Its scientific symbol is N. Nitrogen is released in the form of nitrogen oxides when fossil fuels burn. It has two stable isotopes, both containing 14 protons within the nucleus.
Oxygen: A gas that makes up around 21% of Earth’s atmosphere. All animals and many microorganisms require oxygen for growth (and metabolism).
Phosphorus: Highly reactive nonmetallic element naturally occurring in phosphates. Its scientific symbol is P. It is an essential component of many chemicals and structures found in cells, such as membranes and DNA.
Runoff: Rainwater running from land into rivers, lakes, and seas. As this water passes through the soil, it picks up dirt and chemicals that can later accumulate as contaminants in rivers, lakes, and oceans.
System: A network of components that work together to achieve a specific function. For example, blood, blood vessels, and the heart are key components of the human body’s circulatory system. Similarly, trains, platforms, tracks, traffic signals, and overpasses are components of a country’s railway system. The term can also apply to processes or ideas that form a method of performing a task or an ordered set of steps.
Toxic: Able to harm, damage, or kill cells, tissues, or entire organisms. The degree of risk posed by such poisons is known as toxicity.
Triclosan: A chemical added to some common products like hand soap and toothpaste to kill germs.
Waste: Any material left over from a biological or other system that is considered to be of no use and can be discarded as trash or recycled for new purposes.
Wastewater: Water that has been used for any purpose (such as washing) and is no longer clean or safe to use without some form of treatment. Examples include water from kitchen sinks and bathtubs, or water used in industrial processes that is then discharged into water bodies.
Source: www.snexplores.org