Wordsmith collection

Modern Science & Tech

by Wordsmith @wordsmith

The vocabulary of popular science and technology: 77 words from hypothesis and entropy to neural, quantum and encryption.

• iterative Of a procedure that involves repetition of steps (iteration) to achieve the desired outcome; in computing this may involve a mechanism such as a loop.
• data plural of datum
• neural Of, or relating to the nerves, neurons or the nervous system.
• probability The state of being probable.
• variable Able to vary or be varied.
• disruption An interruption to the regular flow or sequence of something.
• mechanics The branch of physics that deals with the action of forces on material objects with mass
• neuron A cell of the nervous system, which conducts nerve impulses; consisting of an axon and several dendrites. Neurons are connected by synapses.
• sustainable Able to be sustained.
• experiment A test under controlled conditions made to either demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried.
• bandwidth The width, usually measured in hertz, of a frequency band.
• greenhouse A building used to grow plants, particularly one with large glass windows or plastic sheeting to trap heat from sunlight even in intemperate seasons or climates.
• behavioral Of or relating to behavior.
• cognitive Relating to the part of mental functions that deals with logic, as opposed to affective which deals with emotions.
• objective Of or relating to a material object, actual existence or reality.
• correlation A reciprocal, parallel or complementary relationship between two or more comparable objects.
• hypothesis A tentative conjecture explaining an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem and that can be tested by further observation, investigation, or experimentation.
• significant Signifying something; carrying meaning.
• feedback loop A self-reinforcing or self-weakening effect.
• phenomenon A thing or being, event or process, perceptible through senses; or a fact or occurrence thereof.
• statistics A discipline, principally within applied mathematics, concerned with the systematic study of the collection, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of data.
• dataset Alternative form of data set.
• evolutionary Of or relating to the biological theory of evolution.
• complex Made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.
• biodiversity The diversity (number and variety of species) of plant and animal life within a region.
• algorithmic Of, relating to, or being an algorithm.
• random Occurring for no particular reason; haphazard, unpredictable.
• cybersecurity Security against electronic attacks such as cyberwarfare or cyberterrorism.
• efficiency The extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose.
• causation The act of causing.
• bias Inclined to one side; swelled on one side.
• dopamine A monoamine C₈H₁₁NO₂ that is a decarboxylated form of dopa, present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other substances including adrenalin.
• outpace To go faster than; to exceed the pace of.
• ethical Of or relating to the study of ethics.
• neuroplasticity The state or quality of being neuroplastic, of having a brain that adapts to experience.
• automation The act or process of converting the controlling of a machine or device to a more automatic system, such as computer or electronic controls.
• equilibrium The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
• anomaly A deviation from a rule or from what is regarded as normal; an outlier.
• visualize To perceive (something) visually; to see.
• autonomous Governing itself independently.
• psychology The study of the human mind.
• ecosystem A system formed by an ecological community and its environment that functions as a unit.
• simulation Something that simulates a system or environment in order to predict actual behaviour.
• entropy A measure of the disorder present in a system.
• neuroscience The scientific study of the nervous system.
• mutation Any alteration or change.
• chaotic Filled with chaos.
• genetic Relating to genetics or genes.
• simulate Feigned; pretended.
• anecdotal Of the nature of or relating to an anecdote.
• cortex The outer layer of an internal organ or body structure, such as the kidney or the brain.
• optimize To act optimistically or as an optimist.
• genome The complete genetic information (either DNA or, in some viruses, RNA) of an organism.
• climate The long-term manifestations of weather and other atmospheric conditions in a given area or country, now usually represented by the statistical summary of its weather conditions during a period long enough to ensure that representative values are obtained (generally 30 years).
• innovate To alter, to change into something new; to revolutionize.
• renewable Able to be renewed; capable of renewal.
• emergent Emerging; coming into view or into existence; nascent; new.
• conditioning The process of modifying a person or animal's behaviour.
• outlier A person or thing situated away from the main body or outside its proper place.
• sample A part or snippet of something taken or presented for inspection, or shown as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen.
• surveillance Close observation of an individual or group; person or persons under suspicion.
• systematic Carried out according to a planned, ordered procedure.
• robust Able to withstand adverse conditions.
• empirical Pertaining to or based on experience, as opposed to theory.
• placebo A dummy medicine containing no active ingredients; an inert treatment.
• statistic Alternative form of statistical.
• quantum Of a change, sudden or discrete, without intermediate stages.
• systemic Embedded within and spread throughout and affecting a whole system, group, body, economy, market, or society.
• theory A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.
• DNA Initialism of deoxyribonucleic acid (“a nucleic acid found in all living things (and some non-living things such as certain viruses) which consists of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix; encoded in its structure are genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction”).
• evolve To move (something) in regular procession through a system.
• encryption The process of obscuring information to make it unreadable without special knowledge, key files, or passwords.
• artificial intelligence Intelligence exhibited by an artificial (nonnatural, manmade, humanmade) entity.
• gene A theoretical unit of heredity of living organisms which may take several values and (in principle) predetermines a precise trait of an organism's form (phenotype), such as hair color.
• evidence Facts or observations presented in support of an assertion.
• algorithm A collection of ordered steps that solve a mathematical problem. A precise step-by-step plan for a computational procedure that possibly begins with an input value and yields an output value in a finite number of steps.
• model Worthy of being a model; exemplary.

Definitions from Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0) and Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).