aka: An abbreviation for “also known as.” arc: A curve, often mapping out what appears to be part of a circle. ash: (in geology) Small, lightweight fragments of rock and glass spewed by volcanic eruptions.  astronaut: Someone trained to travel into space for research and exploration. atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding Earth, another planet or a moon. colleague: Someone who works with another; a co-worker or team member. computer model: A program that runs on a computer that creates a model, or simulation, of a real-world feature, phenomenon or event. data: Facts and/or statistics collected together for analysis but not necessarily organized in a way that gives them meaning. For digital information (the type stored by computers), those data typically are numbers stored in a binary code, portrayed as strings of zeros and ones. degrade: To break down into smaller, simpler materials — as when wood rots or as a flag that’s left outdoors in the weather will fray, fade and fall apart. disrupt: (n. disruption) To break apart something; interrupt the normal operation …