254 Index

Temperature (Cont.)
nature of heat, 50
nature of the atmosphere, 202
oceans, effects on weather, 4041
superconductivity, 12829
Theory of evolution. See also Heredity
chromosomes, function of, 121
importance of, 79
origins of discovery, 7980
Theory of relativity
black holes, 140
2
E = mc , 112
importance of, 114
origins of discovery, 11415
Thermodynamics
calories, 71
conservation of energy, 73
Thermometer
atmospheric layers, 107
superconductivity, 129
Thompson, Benjamin. See Rumford, Count
Thomson, Charles
deep-sea life, 8889
Thomson, J. J.
electrons, 1012
Thorium
isotopes, 134
radioactive dating, 119
Time. See Light, space, and time
Torricelli, Evangelista
air pressure, 1718
Trace elements
vitamins, 11718
Traits. See also Genes
chromosomes, function of, 121
heredity, 8687
Transfer resistors
semiconductor transistor, 184
Transfusions
blood types, 100
Transistor. See Semiconductor transistor
Transverse waves
Earths core and mantle, 137
Troposphere
atmospheric layers, 108
Tryptophan
vitamins, 118
Ultraviolet (UV) light. See Infrared (IR) and
ultraviolet (UV) light

Uncertainty Principle
importance of, 153
origins of discovery, 15354
Universal gravitation. See also Law of
falling objects; Laws of motion
importance of, 23
origins of discovery, 2324
Universe. See Accelerating universe; Dark
matter; Existence of planets around
other stars; Expanding universe;
Quasars and pulsars
Uranium. See also Lead
isotopes, 134
radioactive dating, 119
radioactivity, 1056
Urkraft
electromagnetism, 6566
infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) light,
56
Vaccinations
importance of, 53
origins of discovery, 5354
Vacuum
air pressure, 1718
matter, 48
Vagus nerve
neurotransmitters, 145
Vagusstoff. See Acetylcholine
van Helmholtz, Hermann
conservation of energy, 7374
Variation, 208
Vegetation zones
ecosystems, 169
Veins
circulatory system, 1516
Venter, J. Craig
human genome, 22021
Vesalius, Andreas
human anatomy, 78
Viruses. See also Antibiotics; Bacteria; Cell
structure
importance of, 97
origins of discovery, 9798
Vital force theory
conservation of energy, 73
Vitamins
definition of, 118
importance of, 117
origins of discovery, 11718

Index 255
Volume
Boyles Law, 20
buoyancy, 4
gas, 1920
oceans, effects on weather, 41
Water
air pressure, 17
Watson, James
DNA, 1967
human genome, 22021
Weak and strong force
definitions of, 17172
importance of, 171
origins of discovery, 17172
Weapons advancement
E = mc2, 112
isotopes, 133
nuclear fission, 17879
speed of light, 156
Weather. See also Atmosphere; Barometer;
Oceans, effects on weather; Troposphere
air pressure, 1718
atmospheric layers, 1078
forecasting, 2012
ice ages, 6970
nature of the atmosphere, 202
Wegener, Alfred
continental drift, 13839

Weight. See also Atomic weight; Matter

air pressure, 1718
atoms, 60
Boyles Law, 20
law of falling objects, 910
levers, 3
Wind
atmospheric layers, 107
Wobble effect
existence of planets around other stars,
21516
Wright, Thomas
galaxies, 3637
X-ray crystalography
penicillin, 159
X-rays. See also Gamma rays
dark matter, 212
DNA, 19697
electromagnetic radiation/radio waves, 8384
genes, function of, 16768
importance of, 95
infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) light, 55
origins of discovery, 9596
Yukawa, Hideki
strong force, 17172
Zonation. See Latitudinal zonation