globus

Globus is a term with multiple meanings, derived from the Latin word globus, meaning globe or sphere. In general use, it describes a rounded, ball-like shape and appears in various scientific and medical terms as a root for describing globe-shaped structures.

In anatomy and medicine, globus is used to designate spherical structures or regions. The globus pallidus is a prominent, rounded part of the brain’s basal ganglia involved in the regulation of movement. The term globus also appears in clinical phrases such as globus pharyngeus, a sensation of a lump or fullness in the throat without an obvious physical obstruction.

In science and technology, Globus is the name of a data transfer and sharing platform designed for researchers and institutions. The service enables secure, reliable, high-performance movement of large datasets between storage sites and supports controlled sharing and collaboration. Globus originated from grid computing research and evolved from earlier grid tooling into a service-oriented platform. It commonly uses endpoints connected by users via Globus Connect and authenticates through Globus Auth. The platform is widely used by universities, national laboratories, and research collaborations to move, manage, and share data efficiently across networks and geographic locations.

Outside of technical contexts, globus appears as a general descriptive term for globe-like forms in biology and anatomy, reflecting its Latin root. The word is also encountered in historical or descriptive writings to denote spherical shapes or objects.