Science and SF Glossary ~ K - O


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~K~

klick(s) (kilk)
SF - a kilometer

~L~

laser
A word formed by the acronym of : Light Amplification by Stimulated Emissions of Radiation
meaning: a device that utilizes particle oscillations between energy levels for generating beams of electromagnetic radiation...
LED
abbreviation for "light-emitting diode"
light speed
SF - the velocity needed to propel an object at the speed of light.
light-year
a unit of time that is equivalent to the distance light travels in one year in a vacuum, approximately 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers)

~M~

magnitude
a number representing the intensity of a star's apparent brightness.
meme
a contagious idea (coined by Richard Dawkins)
megacryometeorslarge balls of ice that form in the atmosphere and often fall to earth (National Weather Service)

~N~

nanotechnology
(derived from molecular engineering) the ability to manufacture and manipulate materials at the molecular or atomic level
nanobot
SF - A robot of microscopic proportions, presumably built by means of nanotechnology. As yet, only used informally (and speculatively!).
Also called a nanoagent.
nebula
any of numerous clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space.
SF - a galaxy other than the Milky Way

~O~

Oort cloud
a spherical shell of cometary bodies believed to surround the sun far beyond the orbit of pluto and from which some are dislodged when perturbed (as by a passing star) to fall toward the sun. (Named for Dutch astronomer Jan Oort)
outer sector
the space of a galaxy found beyond an anomaly (such as asteroid belts)

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