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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
From the US Fish & Wildlife Service
The Arctic Refuge is managed for all Americans by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a federal agency
within the Department of the Interior. The original
'Arctic National Wildlife Range' was created in 1960
by Public Land Order 2214 "For the purpose of preserving
unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values..."
In 1980 the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) enlarged the area, designated
much of the original Range as Wilderness under the 1964 Wilderness Act, renamed the whole area the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and added four purposes. The ANILCA purposes are: (i) to conserve fish
and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity including, but not limited to, the Porcupine
caribou herd (including participation in coordinated ecological studies and management of this herd
and the Western Arctic caribou herd), polar bears, grizzly bears, muskox, Dall sheep, wolves,
wolverines, snow geese, peregrine falcons and other migratory birds and Arctic char [note that those
residing in Alaska's North Slope rivers and lagoons are now classified as Dolly Varden] and grayling;
(ii) to fulfill the international fish and wildlife treaty obligations of the United States; (iii) to provide the
opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents; and (iv) to ensure water quality and
necessary water quantity within the refuge. Section 1002 of ANILCA required that studies be performed
to provide information to Congress. These mandated studies included a comprehensive inventory and
assessment of fish and wildlife resources, an analysis of potential impacts of oil and gas exploration
and development on those resources, and a delineation of the extent and amount of potential
petroleum resources. Because this Congressionally designated part of the Refuge coastal plain was
addressed in Section 1002 of ANILCA, it is now referred to as the "1002 Area." Also referring to this
area of the coastal plain, Congress declared in Section 1003 of ANILCA that the "production of oil and
gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is prohibited and no leasing or other development leading
to production of oil and gas from the [Refuge] shall be undertaken until authorized by an act of
Congress.

Bioscience
From the Flinn Foundation: Arizona BioBasics
Industry cluster comprised of five segments: agricultural feedstock and chemicals; drugs and
pharmaceuticals; medical devices and instruments; hospitals and laboratories; and research and
testing.

Biotechnology
From the Flinn Foundation: Arizona BioBasics
Technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine.
Biotechnology is a subset of the biosciences.

Bird Flu
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses
occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not
get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some
domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Evolution
From California State University at Berkeley
Biological evolution, simply put, is descent with modification. This definition encompasses small-scale
evolution (changes in gene frequency in a population from one generation to the next) and large-scale
evolution (the descent of different species from a common ancestor over many generations). Evolution
helps us to understand the history of life.

FEMA
From FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency - a former independent agency that became part of the
new Department of Homeland Security in March 2003 - is tasked with responding to, planning for,
recovering from and mitigating against disasters. FEMA can trace its beginnings to the Congressional
Act of 1803. This act, generally considered the first piece of disaster legislation, provided assistance to
a New Hampshire town following an extensive fire. In the century that followed, ad hoc legislation was
passed more than 100 times in response to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural
disasters.

Global warming
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Kid's Site
Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes
in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range
of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When scientists talk about the issue of climate change,
their concern is about global warming caused by human activities.

Genetically modified foods (GMOs)
From the Human Genome Project
Although "biotechnology" and "genetic modification" commonly are used interchangeably, GM is a
special set of technologies that alter the genetic makeup of such living organisms as animals, plants,
or bacteria. Biotechnology, a more general term, refers to using living organisms or their components,
such as enzymes, to make products that include wine, cheese, beer, and yogurt. Combining genes
from different organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology, and the resulting organism is said
to be "genetically modified," "genetically engineered," or "transgenic." GM products (current or in the
pipeline) include medicines and vaccines, foods and food ingredients, feeds, and fibers.

Greenhouse gasses
From U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities.
Naturally occuring greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and
ozone. Certain human activities, however, add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases:
Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal),
and wood and wood products are burned. Methane is emitted during the production and transport of
coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from the decomposition of organic wastes in
municipal solid waste landfills, and the raising of livestock. More information on methane.
Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of
solid waste and fossil fuels. Very powerful greenhouse gases that are not naturally occurring include
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), which are
generated in a variety of industrial processes. Each greenhouse gas differs in its ability to absorb heat
in the atmosphere. HFCs and PFCs are the most heat-absorbent. Methane traps over 21 times more
heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times more heat per molecule
than carbon dioxide. Often, estimates of greenhouse gas emissions are presented in units of millions
of metric tons of carbon equivalents (MMTCE), which weights each gas by its GWP value, or Global
Warming Potential.

Hurricanes
From the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of
Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm
ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power. Hurricanes rotate in a
counter-clockwise direction around an "eye." Hurricanes have winds at least 74 miles per hour. When
they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and
cars. The heavy waves are called a storm surge. Storm surges are very dangerous and a major reason
why you MUST stay away from the ocean during a hurricane warning or hurricane.

Intelligent Design
From The Center For Science And Culture
The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best
explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.

Nanotechnology
From the National Nanotechnology Initiative
Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100
nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. Encompassing nanoscale science,
engineering and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and
manipulating matter at this length scale. At the nanoscale, the physical, chemical, and biological
properties of materials differ in fundamental and valuable ways from the properties of individual atoms
and molecules or bulk matter. Nanotechnology R&D is directed toward understanding and creating
improved materials, devices, and systems that exploit these new properties. One area of
nanotechnology R&D is medicine. Medical researchers work at the micro- and nano-scales to develop
new drug delivery methods, therapeutics and pharmaceuticals. For a bit of perspective, the diameter of
DNA, our genetic material, is in the 2.5 nanometer range, while red blood cells are approximately 2.5
micrometers. Additional information about nanoscale research in medicine is available from the
National Institutes of Health. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter; a sheet of paper is about
100,000 nanometers thick.

Organic foods
From the United States Department of Agriculture, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances
biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs
and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony." 'Organic' is a
labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act.
The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the
ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an
ecological whole." "Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of
residues; however, methods are used to minimize pollution from air, soil and water." "Organic food
handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural
products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of
interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.

Pandemic Flu
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Pandemic flu is flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness that spreads easily
from person to person.

STEM cells
From the National Institutes of Health
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving
as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells
as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential
to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a
muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Supreme Court
From CNN Student News
Article III of the U.S. Constitution states, "The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one
supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress from time to time ordain and establish."
The framers of the Constitution believed that an independent judicial branch was central to fair and
equal justice for all citizens. The courts do not make laws, nor do they enforce them; those are roles
reserved for the legislative and executive branches, respectively. The job of the judicial branch is to
interpret the laws created and enforced by the other two branches of government. The U.S. Supreme
Court is the highest court in the U.S. The lower courts include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, U.S. District
Courts and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. Other state and local courts are also part of the legal system. The
Supreme Court consists of a chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices. The current
associate justices are John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy,
David H. Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Steven G. Breyer. Justices are nominated
by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. Justices are appointed for life. The
term of the high court as set by law begins on the first Monday in October, and it lasts until the first
Monday in October of the following year. In the course of a term, about 8,000 petitions are filed with the
Supreme Court. From those petitions, the justices decide which cases the court will hear. Judicial
review is the power of the court to determine whether laws and other government actions are in
agreement with the U.S. Constitution. This power is what gives the court its role as the guardian of civil
liberties. If a law is passed that the court believes violates the Constitution, the law is struck down.
While judicial review is not spelled out in the Constitution, it is clear that the Founding Fathers, including
James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, expected the Supreme Court to assume this role. It is judicial
review that also enables the Constitution to be a "living document," a flexible plan for government that
has adapted to different situations and stresses for more than two centuries... Sources: The Federal
Judiciary, The Supreme Court and CNN.com.

Tsunamis
From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor, landslides,
or volcanic activity. In the deep ocean, the tsunami wave may only be a few inches high. The tsunami
wave may come gently ashore or may increase in height to become a fast moving wall of turbulent
water several meters high. Although a tsunami cannot be prevented, the impact of a tsunami can be
mitigated through community preparedness, timely warnings, and effective response.