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food additives

(Encyclopedia)food additives, substances added to foods by manufacturers to prevent spoilage or to enhance appearance, taste, texture, or nutritive value. By quantity, the most common food additives are flavorings,...

Nansen, Fridtjof

(Encyclopedia)Nansen, Fridtjof frĭtˈyôf nänˈsən [key], 1861–1930, Norwegian arctic explorer, scientist, statesman, and humanitarian. The diversity of Nansen's interests is shown in his writings, which inclu...

anabolic steroid

(Encyclopedia)anabolic steroid ănˌdrōjĕnˈĭk [key], any of a group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone that promote muscle and bone growth. Used to treat uncontrolled weight loss in wasting diseases, anab...

New Zealand spinach

(Encyclopedia)New Zealand spinach, succulent annual (Tetragonia expansa) of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and S South America, grown for the edible leaves. The plant grows prostrate, often spreading to cover sever...

Nakhodka

(Encyclopedia)Nakhodka nəkhôtˈkə [key], city (1989 pop. 160,000), Russian Far East, c.20 mi (32 km) E of Vladivostok, on the Sea of Japan. A port city with fewer winter ice problems than Vladivostok, Nakhodka a...

Ross Island

(Encyclopedia)Ross Island, in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, on the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf. Part of the Ross Dependency, the island is separated from Victoria Land by McMurdo Sound. Mt. Erebus, an active volcano, an...

igloo

(Encyclopedia)igloo ĭgˈlo͞o [key] [Inuit,=house]. The Eskimos traditionally had three types of houses. A summer house, which was basically a tent, a winter house, which was usually partially dug into the ground ...

Ronne, Finn

(Encyclopedia)Ronne, Finn, 1899–1980, Norwegian-American Antarctic explorer. Ronne graduated from college in Norway in 1922 and immigrated to the United States. His first of nine Antarctic expeditions was with Ad...

crevasse

(Encyclopedia)crevasse krəvăsˈ [key], large crack in the upper surface of a glacier, formed by tension acting upon the brittle ice. Transverse crevasses occur where the grade of the glacier bed becomes suddenly ...

frostweed

(Encyclopedia)frostweed or frostwort, North American woodland flowers (Helianthemum canadense and sometimes other related species) of the family Cistaceae (rockrose family). In cold weather, crystals of ice shoot f...