Nova S36E13: English vocabulary

to change into a fossil over a very long time

to move back or farther away

the bone at the front of the knee

not willing to compromise or change your position

covered or hidden so that you cannot see it clearly

the fact that something changes or can be different

the larger bone in the lower part of the leg, between the knee and the ankle

to come out in a sudden, forceful stream

to put something firmly inside or into something else

the way someone walks

more able or skilled than someone or something else

able to change easily to fit new conditions or situations

a wide area of grassland in a tropical or subtropical region with few trees

the work of measuring land and recording its features, often for a map or building plan

a change in size, amount, or level that goes up and down repeatedly

in a way that is not obvious or direct

a wide open area of land, sea, or sky

the act of combing hair

while facing something difficult or dangerous bravely

relating to the movement and structure of the Earth's crust

something that makes a surface, line, or shape even or level

a sudden, disruptive change or disturbance

the ability to do many different things well

to clean something by rubbing it hard

empty, lonely, and bleak, often because no people are around

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

to make a short, high-pitched sound

kissing and touching someone in a sexual way

a soft shoe with a rubber sole, worn for sports or casual use

fine mud or sand carried by water and left behind as sediment

to form an opinion or guess based on evidence

a large ape that lives in Africa and is closely related to humans

the act of gently rubbing or stroking something

a photo taken quickly and casually

the large group of bones at the bottom of the spine, between the hips

to push or drive something forward or in a particular direction

to develop or prepare something carefully and in a planned way

to force someone to do something, or make them feel they must do it

having a shape that is not normal or natural

to make something more varied or different

to dig up something that is buried or hidden

the outer shape or line of something

to separate threads or fibers, or come apart into threads

relating to dogs or similar animals

a state of constant change or movement

sloping downward or at an angle

sudden and often unexpected, especially in a way that feels unfriendly or unpleasant

a misspelling of Homo sapiens, the species that includes modern humans

moving with quick, light jumps

a very large African animal that lives in and near rivers and lakes

able to speak or express yourself clearly and confidently

locked with a key

to light something up or make it brighter

used to describe an animal that has been trained to be calm and easy to handle

to a very great degree; extremely

something that is hard to understand or explain

an obscure song by a well-known artist

very deeply; completely

to cook something gently just below boiling point

made hard or tougher by heat, cold, use, or time

to make someone less likely to do something by making it seem difficult, risky, or unpleasant

relating to the structure of the body or of a body part

a person who studies human societies, cultures, and how they change over time

relating to bones or a skeleton

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

extremely good, impressive, or surprising

to talk in a casual, lively way

able to be trusted to do what is needed or expected

the equipment and setup used to make products in a factory

a process that makes cloth stiffer and stronger by coating it with a special substance

to a lesser degree; not as much

the set of rules that tells cells how to make proteins from DNA

to keep talking for a long time in a boring or annoying way

to invest in a new cryptocurrency quickly and without thinking carefully

to provide someone or something with the things needed for a particular purpose

to move closer to a target or goal and focus on it