ScienceAugust 17, 2026

homeostasis

hoh-mee-uh-STAY-sis

Definition

The tendency of a biological or systemic entity to maintain stable internal conditions despite fluctuations in the external environment.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek roots 'homoios,' meaning 'similar' or 'like,' and 'stasis,' meaning 'standing still' or 'stagnation,' coined in the early 20th century to describe physiological stability.

In the news

In this article, the term describes Earth's theoretical ability to regulate its own chemical composition and temperature, similar to how a living organism functions.

Planet Earth Is Conscious With a ‘Mind’ Shaping the Fate of All Life, Controversial Theory Suggests

Read the full article ↗

Popular Mechanics

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