our-universe1 Flashcards
sustain
to keep something in operation; maintain
the cosmic ingredients that sustain us
vital
necessary for the success or continued existence of something; extremely important
It’s where life’s most vital connection to the universe can be found
stardust
tiny particles and elements that were formed in the cores of stars through nuclear fusion
from the stardust that built us, the cosmic ingredients that sustain us
blister
a painful swelling on the skin that contains liquid, caused usually by continuous rubbing, especially on your foot, or by burning
blistering - extremely hot
the blistering sun has driven away nearly everything
desolate
A desolate place is empty and not attractive, with no people or nothing pleasant in it
from these dry, desolate plains.
impulse
a sudden strong wish to do something
This simple, primal impulse stems from a deep connection she has to her surroundings
stem
to have something as its source or cause
This simple, primal impulse stems from a deep connection she has to her surroundings
span
to have something as its source or cause
this unbroken stream spans vast reaches of space
desperate
needing or wanting something very much
she is desperate to feed her hungry family
scarce
not easy to find or get
it is dry season, and food is scarce
abundant
more than enough
energy is more abundant that ever
searing
If something, such as a feeling or temperature, is described as searing, it is extreme
huge loops of searingly hot plasma erupt from its surface.
coat
the hair, wool, or fur covering an animal
her spotted coat provides camouflage
stalk
to follow an animal or person as closely as possible without being seen or heard, usually in order to catch or kill them
essential for stalking prey
deplete
to reduce something in size or amount, especially supplies of energy, money, etc.
hunting at such great speeds is incredibly depleting
protostar
very young star that is still gathering mass from its parent molecular cloud
ferocious
frightening and violent
this star in the making had a ferocious hunger
jet
a thin stream of something, such as water or gas, that is forced out of a small hole
pulling in so much gas that jets of hot water
propel
to push or move something somewhere, often with a lot of force
pulling in so much gas that jets of hot water were propelled from its poles
infant
a baby or a very young child
the infant star continued to grow for 30 million years.
vibrant
energetic, exciting, and full of enthusiasm
it is the one that delivers heat and light to this incredible vibrant planet
drained
to make someone very tired
Wa Chini’s cubs are drained, beyond hungry now
TLC
tender loving care
but all Wa Chini can provide this morning is precious tender loving care
tender
gentle, loving, or kind
but all Wa Chini can provide this morning is precious tender loving care
parched
(especially of earth or crops) dried out because of too much heat and not enough rain
in this parched land, our sun both gives and takes.
fierce
physically violent and frightening
its fierce energy is what life needs
inferno
a very large uncontrolled fire
to understand the source of this unbearable heat, we must peer into the inferno
fuse
to join together physically, or to join things together physically
atoms collide at high speed and fuse
trace
to find the origin of something
this energy released by stars can be traced back to the beginning of time
snatch
to take hold of something suddenly and roughly
predator could snatch not just her food but her cubs as well
meager
very small or not enough
it’s a meager snack, but after two days without food, it is a lifesaver.
acquire
to get or obtain something
In the battle between using and acquiring energy, cheetah is only just breaking even
moisture
a liquid such as water in the form of very small drops, either in the air, in a substance, or on a surface
The sun’s heat has pulled what moisture there is high into the sky
glimmer
to shine with a weak light or a light that is not continuous
as the cloud clear, a glimmer of hope appears
bask
to lie or sit enjoying the warmth especially of the sun
microscopic stacks called grana bask in the warm rays from the sun.
beam
a line of light that shines from a bright object
sunbeams are spun into sugar
embed
to fix something firmly into a substance
the universe’s energy becomes embedded in the landscape
tantalize
to make someone feel excited or attracted by an offer or a suggestion of something that is, in fact, unlikely to happen
even when energy is tantalizingly close
