ScienceJuly 17, 2026

clinostat

KLY-nuh-stat

Definition

A device that rotates a sample at a constant speed to cancel out the effects of gravitational or other directional forces by continuously changing the orientation of the object.

Etymology

The word is a combination of the Greek 'klinein' (to lean or slope) and 'statos' (standing or placed). It was coined to describe an instrument that causes a plant or animal to effectively 'lean' or fall in all directions at once.

In the news

The article describes the use of a specialized, high-speed clinostat to simulate microgravity conditions for aquatic animals. It is a critical tool for researchers who need to observe how organisms adapt to weightlessness without the high costs of space travel.

Scientists are Teaching Shrimp to Eat in Microgravity for Future Moon Bases

Read the full article ↗

Universe Today

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