Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

superfluidity

(Encyclopedia)superfluidity, tendency of liquid helium below a temperature of 2.19K to flow freely, even upward, with little apparent friction. Helium becomes a liquid when it is cooled to 4.2K. Special methods...

machine

(Encyclopedia)machine, arrangement of moving and stationary mechanical parts used to perform some useful work or to provide transportation. From a historical perspective, many of the first machines were the result ...

North Dakota, University of

(Encyclopedia)North Dakota, University of, at Grand Forks; state supported; coeducational; chartered 1883, opened 1884. It has several professional schools, including those for aerospace sciences, engineering and m...

Dothan, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Dothan dōˈthən [key], city (2020 pop. 71,072), seat of Houston co., SE Ala., near the Fla....

Hitachi

(Encyclopedia)Hitachi hētäˈchē [key], city, Ibaraki prefecture, E central Honshu, Japan, on the Kashima ...

Gatchina

(Encyclopedia)Gatchina gäˈchēnə [key], city (1989 pop. 80,000), NW European Russia. The city developed around the imperial palace (built 1766–81), which was used as a summer residence by Paul I in the 18th ce...

Woomera

(Encyclopedia)Woomera wo͞oˈmərə [key], village (2016 pop. 146), South Australia, S Australia, near Lake Torrens. It is located within the large Woomera Range Complex, which includes and air force and missile-te...

civil defense

(Encyclopedia)civil defense, nonmilitary activities designed to protect civilians and their property from enemy actions in time of war. A civil defense program usually includes measures taken during peace (e.g., bu...

Vajpayee, Atal Bihari

(Encyclopedia)Vajpayee, Atal Bihari äˈtäl bihärˈē väjˈpīˌ [key], 1926–2018, Indian politician, prime minister of India (1996, 1998–2004). He began his career as a journalist, entering politics as an u...

glycolysis

(Encyclopedia)glycolysis glīkŏlˈĭsĭs [key], term given to the metabolic pathway utilized by most microorganisms (yeast and bacteria) and by all “higher” animals (including humans) for the degradation of gl...