Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Data | Numerical information that can be counted or measured (e.g., length, mass, time). Science General |
| Quantum | A quantum is the smallest indivisible unit of energy. Science General |
| Quarantine | A way to prevent the spread of disease by isolating a person or animal who has not been diagnosed with a communicable disease but who was exposed or is likely to have been exposed to that disease. Vaccines |
| Quote Mining | Taking a quotation out of context to make it appear to support a position its author does not hold. Antiscience |
| Radiation | Energy transfer in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles that release energy when absorbed by an object. Climate Change Denial |
| Radiative Forcing | A change in the Earth's energy balance caused by factors such as greenhouse gases or aerosols. Positive forcing leads to warming. Climate Change Denial |
| Radiometric Dating | Determining the age of rocks and fossils from the known decay rates of radioactive isotopes. It shows the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. Evolution |
| Radiophobia | An exaggerated fear of ionizing radiation, out of proportion to the actual risk, which can lead to harmful decisions such as unnecessary evacuations or rejection of nuclear power and medical imaging. Antiscience |
| Randomized Trial | A study where participants are randomly assigned into either the intervention group or the control group. This is done to prevent bias among researchers, who may be subconsciously wishing for the study to show a particular result. Science General |
| Recombinant | Of or resulting from new combinations of genetic material or cells; the genetic material produced when segments of DNA from different sources are joined to produce recombinant DNA. Vaccines |