| zero energy thermonuclear assembly | <radiobiology> A British fusion device in which scientists observed fusion neutrons in 1958. They were erroneously considered to be thermonuclear (coming from particles with a Maxwellian velocity distribution) and were a cause for the initial optimism that fusion energy would be easy. They were actually due to electromagnetic acceleration during a plasma instability, an effect which cannot be scaled up to produce useful energy. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| zero gravity | A physical state existing in space or at a time in flight when the centrifugal thrust of a parabolic glide or turn exactly counteracts the force of gravity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zero-order reaction | A reaction that proceeds at a particular rate independently of the concentration of the reactant or reactants. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zero time-binding DNA | DNA that has become the duplex form at the start of a reassociation process. Acronym: DNA (05 Mar 2000) |