Science & Nature word list

The study of the structures and parts of living organisms.

“Nobody in the science round questioned the meaning of anatomy; the letters were the problem.”

The scientific study of space, stars, planets, galaxies, and other celestial objects.

“Everyone in the science round knew astronomy, but spelling it aloud was another story.”

The smallest unit of an element that still has that element's chemical properties.

“When atom appeared, the science round got noticeably louder.”

The variety of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region or across Earth.

“Biodiversity was the one word everyone remembered after the science round.”

The study of how chemical elements move through living organisms, Earth systems, and the environment.

“The room knew exactly what biogeochemistry meant during the science round and still hesitated on the spelling.”

The scientific study of living organisms and life processes.

“Nobody in the science round questioned the meaning of biology; the letters were the problem.”

Light produced naturally by a living organism through a chemical reaction.

“When bioluminescence appeared, the science round got noticeably louder.”

All parts of Earth where life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

“When biosphere appeared, the science round got noticeably louder.”

The scientific study of plants.

“When botany appeared, the science round got noticeably louder.”

A chemical element essential to organic life, with the symbol C.

“The host repeated carbon twice in the science round before anyone wanted to go first.”

The basic structural and functional unit of living organisms.

“At the science round, cell came up and everyone immediately had an opinion.”

The science of substances.

“Chemistry was her best subject.”

The green pigment in plants and algae that absorbs light for photosynthesis.

“The science round somehow ended with everyone talking about chlorophyll.”

A DNA-containing structure that carries genetic information in a cell.

“As soon as chromosome appeared in the science round, everyone started silently counting letters.”

A flowering plant of the daisy family.

“She planted a chrysanthemum.”

The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a region.

“Someone confidently said climate in the science round and immediately got challenged on the spelling.”

An icy body that orbits the Sun and can develop a glowing tail when heated.

“Nobody expected comet to become the most memorable word of the science round.”

The change of a gas into a liquid, often caused by cooling.

“The science round somehow ended with everyone talking about condensation.”

A solid whose atoms or molecules are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern.

“The crystal formed in a repeating geometric pattern.”

The scientific study of crystal structures, often using diffraction techniques.

“The science round paused for a second when crystallography showed up.”

Relating to DNA, the molecule that stores genetic information in living organisms.

“The result was clearly deoxyribonucleic under the conditions they tested.”

The muscle beneath the lungs used in breathing.

“Sing from the diaphragm, not the panic.”

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement in Earth's crust.

“Someone used earthquake correctly during the science round, then immediately second-guessed the spelling.”

An event where one celestial body blocks the light from or view of another.

“By the end of the science round, eclipse was still the word people were debating.”

The study of relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

“Ecology turned the science round into an unexpectedly competitive spelling moment.”

A community of organisms interacting with one another and their physical environment.

“The science round group recognized ecosystem, then started arguing about which letters came next.”

Relating to the linked electric and magnetic forces or radiation produced by them.

“The result was clearly electromagnetic under the conditions they tested.”

A negatively charged subatomic particle found around an atomic nucleus.

“The science round moved on, but people were still whispering the letters in electron.”

A laboratory technique that separates charged molecules by moving them through a material using an electric field.

“The word electrophoresis sparked the longest debate of the science round.”

The capacity to do work, cause change, or produce heat or motion.

“The room knew exactly what energy meant during the science round and still hesitated on the spelling.”

A biological catalyst, usually a protein, that speeds up chemical reactions in living systems.

“The science round somehow ended with everyone talking about enzyme.”

A balanced state in which opposing processes or forces are equal.

“Someone mentioned equilibrium during the science round, and the conversation took a turn.”

The enrichment of water with nutrients that can trigger excessive plant and algae growth.

“Eutrophication was the word that finally silenced the science team.”

The process by which a liquid changes into a gas at its surface.

“By the end of the science round, evaporation was still the word people were debating.”

Change in inherited traits of populations across generations.

“The host repeated evolution twice in the science round before anyone wanted to go first.”

A push or pull that can change an object's motion or shape.

“The science round table recognized force instantly and still could not agree on the spelling.”

Preserved remains, impressions, or traces of ancient organisms.

“The science round group recognized fossil, then started arguing about which letters came next.”

An organism such as a mushroom, mold, or yeast that absorbs nutrients from organic matter.

“Everyone in the science round knew fungus, but spelling it aloud was another story.”

A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity.

“Everyone in the science round knew galaxy, but spelling it aloud was another story.”

The study of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms.

“As soon as genetics appeared in the science round, everyone started silently counting letters.”

The scientific study of Earth's materials, structure, history, and physical processes.

“Geology sounded easy in the science round until somebody had to spell it without autocorrect.”

The force of attraction between masses, such as the pull that keeps objects on Earth.

“The host repeated gravity twice in the science round before anyone wanted to go first.”

The process by which a living system maintains stable internal conditions.

“The biology discussion turned to homeostasis after someone mentioned body temperature.”

A powerful tropical cyclone with sustained rotating winds.

“Nobody in the science round questioned the meaning of hurricane; the letters were the problem.”

The study of water, including its movement, distribution, and properties on Earth.

“Nobody expected hydrology to become the most memorable word of the science round.”

A laboratory method that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins in tissue samples.

“Someone used immunohistochemistry correctly during the science round, then immediately second-guessed the spelling.”

Molten rock that has reached Earth's surface.

“Nobody expected lava to become the most memorable word of the science round.”

Molten or partially molten rock beneath Earth's surface.

“One person at the science round swore they knew magma; the spelling attempt said otherwise.”

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

“Everyone in the science round knew matter, but spelling it aloud was another story.”

A major change in body form during an organism's development, such as caterpillar to butterfly.

“Nobody expected metamorphosis to become the most memorable word of the science round.”

A streak of light produced when a space rock burns while entering an atmosphere.

“One person at the science round swore they knew meteor; the spelling attempt said otherwise.”

The scientific study of the atmosphere, weather, and related processes.

“The science round somehow ended with everyone talking about meteorology.”

A living organism too small to be seen clearly without magnification.

“Nobody expected microorganism to become the most memorable word of the science round.”

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a characteristic chemical composition and crystal structure.

“The geologist identified the mineral from its hardness and color.”

Structures inside most eukaryotic cells that generate much of the cell's usable energy.

“The science round table recognized mitochondria instantly and still could not agree on the spelling.”

A group of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.

“The science round group recognized molecule, then started arguing about which letters came next.”

A nerve cell specialized for sending and receiving electrical and chemical signals.

“Someone mentioned neuron during the science round, and the conversation took a turn.”

An electrically neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus of most atoms.

“When neutron appeared, the science round got noticeably louder.”

The central part of an atom, or the DNA-containing control center of a eukaryotic cell.

“Someone confidently said nucleus in the science round and immediately got challenged on the spelling.”

A chemical element with the symbol O that is vital to respiration in many organisms.

“As soon as oxygen appeared in the science round, everyone started silently counting letters.”

The scientific study of ancient life through fossils and other evidence.

“The host repeated paleontology twice in the science round before anyone wanted to go first.”

The process by which plants, algae, and some microbes use light to make chemical energy from carbon dioxide and water.

“Nobody in the science round questioned the meaning of photosynthesis; the letters were the problem.”

The study of evolutionary relationships among organisms or groups of organisms.

“The room knew exactly what phylogenetics meant during the science round and still hesitated on the spelling.”

The scientific study of matter, energy, motion, forces, and the fundamental laws of nature.

“When physics appeared, the science round got noticeably louder.”

Tiny photosynthetic organisms that drift in oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water.

“The group had heard phytoplankton before the science round, but nobody trusted the spelling.”

A large celestial body that orbits a star and is shaped mainly by its own gravity.

“One person at the science round swore they knew planet; the spelling attempt said otherwise.”

Fine grains produced by seed plants that contain male reproductive cells.

“Nobody in the science round questioned the meaning of pollen; the letters were the problem.”

Water that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

“Everyone in the science round knew precipitation, but spelling it aloud was another story.”

A large biological molecule made of amino acids and used for structure, enzymes, signaling, and other functions.

“By the end of the science round, protein was still the word people were debating.”

A positively charged subatomic particle found in an atomic nucleus.

“One person at the science round swore they knew proton; the spelling attempt said otherwise.”

Energy transmitted through space or matter as waves or particles.

“Everyone in the science round knew radiation, but spelling it aloud was another story.”

A dense forest ecosystem with high rainfall and rich biological diversity.

“Nobody expected rainforest to become the most memorable word of the science round.”

A genus of flowering shrubs and trees that includes azaleas.

“The group had heard rhododendron before the science round, but nobody trusted the spelling.”

Relating to earthquakes or vibrations traveling through Earth.

“The result was clearly seismic under the conditions they tested.”

The internal framework of bones.

“The skeleton has 206 bones.”

A massive glowing sphere of hot plasma powered by nuclear fusion.

“Nobody in the science round questioned the meaning of star; the letters were the problem.”

The calculation of quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions.

“The science round paused for a second when stoichiometry showed up.”

A close biological relationship between organisms of different species.

“Everyone in the science round knew symbiosis, but spelling it aloud was another story.”

Relating to the structure and movement of Earth's crustal plates.

“The result was clearly tectonic under the conditions they tested.”

The study of heat, energy, work, and the laws governing their transfer and transformation.

“As soon as thermodynamics appeared in the science round, everyone started silently counting letters.”

The process by which an organism maintains its body temperature within a suitable range.

“The group had heard thermoregulation before the science round, but nobody trusted the spelling.”

The loud noise that follows lightning.

“Thunder rattled the windows.”

A violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm toward the ground.

“The science round paused for a second when tornado showed up.”

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible violet light.

“Ultraviolet radiation can damage skin after too much exposure.”

A microscopic infectious agent that reproduces only inside living host cells.

“Someone confidently said virus in the science round and immediately got challenged on the spelling.”

The state of the atmosphere.

“The weather turned cold.”

The scientific study of animals.

“By the end of the science round, zoology was still the word people were debating.”