Glossary
Partial-word, boolean (AND, OR, NOT) and "exact phrase" searches are supported.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Quantum mechanics | The branch of physics describing the behavior of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic scales, where energy comes in discrete amounts and outcomes are probabilistic. 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 |
| Rabbit hole | A process of being drawn deeper into conspiracy content, often driven by recommendation algorithms that suggest increasingly extreme material. Science Literacy |
| Rabies vaccine | An inactivated vaccine that prevents rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It is given before exposure to people at high risk and after exposure to people who may have been infected. Vaccines |
| Radiation | Energy transfer in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles that release energy when absorbed by an object. Climate Change |
| 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 |
| Radioactivity | The spontaneous emission of radiation from unstable atomic nuclei as they decay. Science General |
| 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 |