Science News for Kids: Feature: A 'Book' on Every Living Thing

From The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, The American Heritage® Children's Science Dictionary, and other sources.

bacteria One-celled organisms that lack a cell nucleus, reproduce by splitting or by forming spores, and in some cases cause disease. They are found in all living things and in all of Earth's environments.

botanist Someone who makes a scientific study of plants, including their growth, structure, and disease.

digital 1. Expressed in numerical form, especially for use by a computer: converted the image to a digital form. 2. Computer science. Relating to a device that can read, write, or store information represented in numerical form: a digital computer.

encyclopedia A body of information, such as one or more books, that contains all knowledge—or a comprehensive collection of information on a given subject—all put together in one place, and usually arranged in alphabetical order.

Latin The language of ancient Rome, and until recently a common language studied in school. Many sciences use Latin terms, even today. By convention, researchers who classify things in science, such as species, still assign their names using Latin.

microscopic Things of a size that cannot be seen and recognized without the degree of magnification made possible through use of microscopes.

species A group of organisms having many characteristics in common and ranking below a genus.

virtual 1. Having the essence of a thing, but being a hypothetical version of it. 2. Something that is on or simulated on a computer, such as a virtual book. 3. Occurring or existing primarily in the digital world, or online.