Glossary

An explosive surge in a fire produced by the sudden mixing of air with other combustible gases.

A single-celled microorganism that has no nucleus.

The study of bacteria.

A virus that infects bacteria.

Small, round cells found in the lower part – the base – of the epidermis.

A type of rock that contains a lot of iron but not much silica. Can form spectacular columns on cooling. Associated with volcanic fields such as Auckland or Whāngārei.

In geology this means a depression of large size which may be caused by erosion or earth movements. Often you can’t see a basin on the surface as it has become in-filled with other sediments.

A combination of electrolytic cells that enables chemical energy to be transformed into electrical energy.

Not cancerous. Mild and non-progressive. Benign cells are not able to spread elsewhere in the body.

A tumour that is not cancerous. Benign means not malignant.

Bottom-dwelling; describing the flora and fauna found on the bottom of a sea or lake.

A type of clay that is rich in the mineral montmorillonite, generally formed from the weathering of volcanic ash.

High-energy electron emitted during certain nuclear decay processes.

This theory describes that the universe originated approximately 14 billion years ago from a violent explosion of a very small concentration of matter of extremely high density and temperature.

A material that, when introduced into the body, is capable of reacting with it in such a way that it becomes chemically bonded.

An experiment designed to measure the effects of a substance on a living organism.

The amount of a chemical that is able to be absorbed by a living organism.

One group of advanced ceramics often used to replace hard material in the body like bone.

A scientist who works in the field of how chemical processes occur in living things.

A branch of science that studies how chemical processes occur in living things.

The ability of a surgical or dental implant to exist in the body with no adverse effect.

Using one living organism to reduce the numbers of another, for example, using the rabbit haemorrhagic virus to control rabbit numbers.

The ability of a substance to break down in the environment into harmless compounds.

The chemical destruction of organic compounds by microorganisms.

The range of species found in a particular region. It is generally thought that the more species that exist, the higher biodiversity, and the more likely it is that an ecosystem will survive episodes of change.

A scientist who studies the interactions of chemical, geological and biological processes in the natural environment.

A branch of science that studies the relationship between the geochemistry of a region and the animal and plant life in that region.

A species used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem.

A material that, when introduced into the body, does not react in any way with the body’s environment.

Using living organisms, or viruses, to control the numbers and spread of pest species.

The variety of species within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth.

A biological indicator of a chemical.

1. Organic matter, such as trees, plants, reject fruit, straw, algae, dairy effluent or tallow (waste fat), which can be turned into biofuel. 2. The mass of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time.

Process of removing a small amount of tissue from living patients for diagnostic examination.

The process of preventing, detecting and controlling unwanted pests and diseases.

All living things on Earth and their environment.

A type of depression that means the person alternates between a normal mood, feeling very depressed and feeling very elated. There are many variations of this disorder.

Any mollusc, such a as mussel or cockle, that has a shell with two hinged shell halves.

A small object in space with huge mass and so much gravity that even light can’t escape.

Underwater mineral chimneys that look like giant thin termite mounds and grow up to several metres high. They are created when hot water, or hydrothermal fluid, passes through the sub-sea floor and dissolves the host rock, which is full of minerals. When the hydrothermal fluid is expelled on the sea floor, it mixes with the cold seawater, and the minerals that were previously dissolved in the hot water start depositing out to form mineral-laden chimneys. Plumes of hot water and minerals pour out the tops of these chimneys like black smoke. The minerals dissolved in the hydrothermal fluid are then either deposited within these black smoker chimneys, or spread further afield as plumes transported by currents, depositing on the sea floor various metals including iron, zinc, copper, manganese, lead, gold and silver.

Any of the vessels, as arteries, veins, or capillaries, through which the blood circulates.

A subdivision of tephra (ash). Refers to material ejected from a volcano that is larger than 64mm in diameter.

A specialised form of connective tissue. The presence of the mineral hydroxyapatite helps to give bone its strength and density.

A type of pottery similar to porcelain. The ingredients needed to make it are kaolin clay, feldspar minerals, fine silica sand and the ashes of cow bone.

A family of flowering plants (Angiospermae) also known as crucifers, mustard family or cabbage family.

The tubes that lead into the lungs from the windpipe (trachea).

A circuit component used to transform electrical energy into light energy. Heat energy is also formed in this process.