Search

Search results

Displaying 361 - 370

mutation

(Encyclopedia) mutation, in biology, a sudden, random change in a gene, or unit of hereditary material, that can alter an inheritable characteristic. Most mutations are not beneficial, since any…

induction, in electricity and magnetism

(Encyclopedia) induction, in electricity and magnetism, common name for three distinct phenomena. Electromagnetic induction is the production of an electromotive force (emf) in a conductor as a…

James, William

(Encyclopedia) James, William, 1842–1910, American philosopher, b. New York City, M.D. Harvard, 1869; son of the Swedenborgian theologian Henry James and brother of the novelist Henry James. In 1872…

magic, in religion and superstition

(Encyclopedia) magic, in religion and superstition, the practice of manipulating and controlling the course of nature by preternatural means. Magic is based upon the belief that the universe is…

ultraviolet radiation

(Encyclopedia) ultraviolet radiation, invisible electromagnetic radiation between visible violet light and X rays; it ranges in wavelength from about 400 to 4 nanometers and in frequency from about…

conjunctivitis

(Encyclopedia) conjunctivitisconjunctivitiskənjəngtəvīˈtəs [key], inflammation or infection of the mucosal membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelid, usually acute, caused by a virus or,…

Compton effect

(Encyclopedia) Compton effect [for A. H. Compton], increase in the wavelengths of X rays and gamma rays when they collide with and are scattered from loosely bound electrons in matter. This effect…

anaphylaxis

(Encyclopedia) anaphylaxisanaphylaxisănˌəfəlăkˈsĭs [key], hypersensitive state that may develop after introduction of a foreign protein or other antigen into the body tissues. When an anaphylactic…

Chatterjee, Bankim Chandra

(Encyclopedia) Chatterjee, Bankim ChandraChatterjee, Bankim Chandrabəngˈkĭm chŭnˈdrə chäˈtərjē [key], 1838–94, Indian nationalist writer, b. Bengal. He popularized a Bengali prose style that became…

Chrysophyta

(Encyclopedia) ChrysophytaChrysophytakrəsŏfˈətə [key], phylum (division) of unicellular marine or freshwater organisms of the kingdom Protista consisting of the diatoms (class Bacillariophyceae), the…