Topic Tag: In Other Words

In Other Words: Sandboxes Aren’t Just for Kids

September 20, 2023

Did you know that kids aren’t the only ones playing around in sandboxes? The term sandbox may evoke a childhood memory of sensory play, but it’s also used to describe a virtual environment where someone can learn from digital products.

Below the title, Sandbox: In Other Words, two images are separated by a jagged line. On the left is a picture of a physical sandbox with shovels, buckets, and other toys in the sand. On the right is a keyboard with hands typing and icons of data symbols floating above. Under the images, text reads: Did you know? Sandbox refers to a virtual environment where someone can learn from digital products.
Credit: NIGMS.
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In Other Words: What’s It Mean to Be Organic?

July 12, 2023

The word organic is often used to talk about fruits and vegetables that have been produced in a specific way, typically without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. But to chemists, organic refers to carbon-containing compounds that are the basis for all living organisms. Ironically, the chemicals prohibited in the farming of organic produce are usually organic molecules.

Below the title, Organic: In Other Words, two images are separated by a jagged line. On the left is a picture of green fruits and vegetables including kiwis, apples, bell peppers, and Brussel sprouts. On the right is a conical flask filled with blue liquid sitting on a paper with chemical structures on it. Under the images, text reads: Did you know? In chemistry, organic refers to carbon-containing compounds that are the basis for all living organisms.
Credit: NIGMS.

Organic chemists study, create, and explore carbon-containing molecules. Most organic molecules contain carbon and hydrogen, but they can also include other elements like nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and more. Organic compounds are all around you, from the phospholipids in your body that make up your cell membranes and the NSAID pain reliever that might be in your medicine cabinet to the fabric of the shirt you’re wearing.

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In Other Words: The Measure of a Mole

October 19, 2022

When we encounter the word mole, some of us might think of a small, fuzzy animal that burrows in gardens, or perhaps the common, pigmented marks on our skin. But in chemistry, the mole is a key unit of measurement; its name is derived from the word molecule. Similar to how “dozen” is another way of saying 12, “mole” is another way of saying 602,214,076,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s about 602 billion trillion), specifically for elementary entities such as molecules and atoms. Scientists sometimes abbreviate this number as 6.02 x 1023, which is why Mole Day is celebrated from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. on October 23 each year.

Below the title, “Mole: In Other Words,” two images are separated by a jagged line. On the left is a picture of a mole—the animal. On the right is a cartoon image of atoms. Under the images, text reads: “Did you know? In chemistry, the mole is a unit of measurement. One mole is 602,214,076,000,000,000,000,000 elementary entities, such as atoms or molecules.”
Credit: NIGMS.
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In Other Words: Not All Cultures Are Human

August 10, 2022

The word culture may make you think of a flag, style of clothing, celebration, or some other tradition associated with a particular group of people. But in biomedical science, a culture is a group of cells grown in a lab. Scientists use cultures to learn about basic biological processes and to develop and test new medicines.

Below the title “Culture: In Other Words,” two images are separated by a jagged line. On the left are outlines of faces surrounding a globe of the Earth. On the right is a hand holding a Petri dish with cells growing in it. Under the images, text reads: “Did you know? In biomedical science, a culture is a group of cells grown in a lab.”
Credit: NIGMS.

The Birth of a Culture

Scientists can grow many types of cells as cultures, from bacteria to human cells. To create a culture, a researcher adds cells to a container such as a Petri dish along with a mix of nutrients the cells need to grow and divide. The exact recipe varies depending on the cell type. (Because many lab containers were historically made of glass, researchers sometimes refer to studies that use cultures as in vitro—Latin for “in glass.”) Once the cells multiply and fill their container, researchers split the culture into new containers to produce more.

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In Other Words: Some Antagonists Are Heroes

April 13, 2022

Many of us learned in English class that an antagonist is a person or thing that a hero fights. But in biomedical science, an antagonist is a molecule that binds to a cellular receptor to prevent a response, such as a muscle contraction or hormone release. Antagonists can be important medical treatments, like the antagonist naloxone—also known as Narcan —that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Below the title “Antagonist: In Other Words,” two images are separated by a jagged line. On the left is a dark figure with a hat, and on the right is an antagonist bound to a ribbon model depiction of a receptor. Under the images, text reads: “Did you know? In biomedical science, an antagonist is a molecule that binds to a cellular receptor to prevent a response, such as a muscle contraction or hormone release.” 
Credit: NIGMS; Yekaterina Kadyshevskaya, The Scripps Research Institute.
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