Glossary
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Measles | A highly contagious viral disease that causes fever and rash and can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, and death. It is prevented by the MMR vaccine, and outbreaks occur where vaccination rates fall. Vaccines |
| Measurement | The process of determining the size, amount, or degree of something using a standard unit. Science General |
| Median | In a set of numbers or data points, the median is the number that falls exactly in the middle: half the numbers in a data set are higher and half are lower than the median. Science General |
| Memory B cell | A long-lived B cell that remembers a specific antigen and rapidly produces antibodies if the pathogen is encountered again. Vaccines |
| Memory T cell | A long-lived T cell that remembers a specific pathogen and responds quickly on re-exposure. Vaccines |
| Meningococcal vaccine | A vaccine that protects against Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium that can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections that kill or disable within hours. Vaccines |
| Messenger RNA (mRNA) | A molecule that carries genetic instructions from DNA to the cell's protein-making machinery. mRNA vaccines use it to teach cells to make a harmless piece of a pathogen. Vaccines |
| Meta-Analysis | A statistical method that combines the results of many independent studies on the same question to produce a more precise overall estimate. Science General |
| Metabolism | All the chemical reactions in an organism that maintain life, including breaking down food for energy. Science General |
| Metacognitive Incompetence | The inability of a person to accurately evaluate their own lack of skill or knowledge in a specific scientific discipline. Science Education |