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interstellar matter

(Encyclopedia) interstellar matter, matter in a galaxy between the stars, known also as the interstellar medium. The interstellar gas, which constitutes about 99% of the interstellar matter,…

in vitro fertilization

(Encyclopedia) in vitro fertilizationin vitro fertilizationvēˈtrō, vĭˈtrō [key] (IVF), technique for conception of a human embryo outside the mother's body. Several ova, or eggs, are removed from the…

exobiology

(Encyclopedia) exobiology or astrobiology, search for extraterrestrial life within the solar system and throughout the universe. Philosophical speculation that there might be other worlds similar to…

beryllium

(Encyclopedia) berylliumberylliumbərĭlˈēəm [key] [from beryl ], metallic chemical element; symbol Be; at. no. 4; at. wt. 9.01218; m.p. about 1,278℃; b.p. 2,970℃ (estimated); sp. gr. 1.85 at 20℃;…

Murchison, Sir Roderick Impey

(Encyclopedia) Murchison, Sir Roderick ImpeyMurchison, Sir Roderick Impeymûrˈkĭsən [key], 1792–1871, British geologist. He served in the Napoleonic Wars but after the peace turned his attention to…

mousebird

(Encyclopedia) mousebird or colycolykōˈlē [key], common name for small, slender birds, comprising six species in the single genus Colius of the family Coliidae. They resemble mice in their soft,…

Mimas

(Encyclopedia) MimasMimasmīˈmăs [key], in astronomy, one of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn. Also known as Saturn I (or S1), Mimas is 244 mi (392 km) in diameter, orbits Saturn at a…

nimbus, in art

(Encyclopedia) nimbusnimbusnĭmˈbəs [key], in art, the luminous disk or circle or other indication of light around the head of a sacred personage. It was used in Buddhist and other Asian art and by…

levee

(Encyclopedia) leveeleveelĕvˈē [key] [Fr.,=raised], embankment built along a river to prevent flooding by high water. Levees are the oldest and the most extensively used method of flood control. They…

loess

(Encyclopedia) loessloesslĕs, lōˈəs, Ger. lös [key], unstratified soil deposit of varying thickness, usually yellowish and composed of fine-grained angular mineral particles mixed with clay. It is…