Action: The way something, often a person or other living thing, acts towards others or acts itself.
Chemistry: The field of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of matter and how they interact. Scientists use this knowledge to study unknown materials, reproduce useful materials in large quantities, and design and create new and useful materials. (of compounds) Chemistry is also used as a term to refer to a recipe for a compound, a method for making it, or some of its properties. People who work in this field are known as chemists. A term (in the social sciences) that describes the ability of people to cooperate, get along, and enjoy each other’s company.
Climate: In general, weather conditions that normally exist in an area or over a long period of time.
Climate Change: Significant long-term changes in Earth’s climate. It can occur naturally or in response to human activities such as burning fossil fuels or deforestation.
Save Money: To protect against loss or deterioration.
Data: Facts and/or statistics collected together for analysis. They are not necessarily organized in a way that gives them meaning. For digital information (the type stored by computers), these data are typically numbers stored in binary code and represented as strings of 0’s and 1’s.
Engineer: A person who uses science and mathematics to solve problems. As a verb, “engineering” means to design a device, material, or process that solves some problem or unmet need.
Hydrogel: “Smart” polymer-based materials that can change their structure depending on the environment, such as local temperature, pH, salinity or water concentration. The polymers that make up hydrogels have protruding edges that attract water. These edges help the hydrogel to adsorb water molecules. Some hydrogels are used in baby diapers to retain urine. Some are added to potting soil to hold water near the plants until needed. Additionally, it may be used as part of a wound dressing to prevent the wound from drying out.
Hypothesis: (v. hypothesis) A proposed explanation for a phenomenon. In science, a hypothesis is an idea that must be rigorously tested before it can be accepted or rejected.
Mentor: An individual who uses his or her experience to give advice to those starting out in the field. In science, teachers and researchers often mentor students and young scientists by helping them refine their research questions. Mentors can also provide feedback on how young researchers prepare to conduct research and interpret data.
Junior High School: Designation for grades 6 through 8 in the U.S. educational system. It will be right before entering high school. Some school systems have slightly different age groups, such as treating 6th grade as part of elementary school and calling 7th and 8th grade “middle school.”
Organic: (in chemistry) an adjective indicating that something contains carbon. It is also a term related to the basic chemicals that make up living things.
Salt: A compound made by combining an acid and a base (this reaction also produces water). The sea contains a variety of salts, collectively called “sea salt.” Common table salt is made up of sodium and chlorine.
Starch: A soft white chemical made from all green plants. It is a relatively long molecule made up of many small, identical building blocks joined together. They are all glucose, which is a simple sugar. Plants and animals use glucose as an energy source. Plants store their glucose in the form of starch as a reserve source of energy. Animals that consume starch can extract useful energy by breaking it down into glucose molecules.
Stress Factors: Anything that causes stress to an individual or system.
Source: www.snexplores.org
