Science and SF Glossary ~ K - O

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~U~

universe

1. the entire celestial cosmos

2. an aggregate of stars comparable to the Galaxy

uplift

a process that provides betterment of the spiritual, social and intellectual condition.
SF
1. improvement of the intellectual condition and abilities of another species.

2. the breeding and genetic engineering by which older spacefarer races bring new species into the space culture. [especially in works by Brin]

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~V~

virtual reality (VR, V-real)

an artificial environment experienced through sensory stimuli (sights and sounds) provided by a computer, and in which one's actions partially determine what happens in that environment.

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~W~

waldo

SF - from R. A. Heinlien's book of the same name A telefactoring device
A mechanical agent, such as a gripper arm, controlled by a human limb

warp drive

SF - the propulsion system that creates the curvatures necessary for warp speed

warp speed

time-space curvatures that allow faster-than-light travel

wormhole

a hypothetical structure of space-time envisioned as a long tunnel connecting points that are separated in space and time.

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~X~

NO WORDS YET

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~Y~

YBP (abbreviation)

Years Before Present

YORP (short for Yarkovsky, O'Keefe, Radzievskii and Paddack--the scientists who developed the theory) effect

influence of sunlight on the spin of asteroids.

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~Z~

NO WORDS YET