Glossary
Partial-word, boolean (AND, OR, NOT) and "exact phrase" searches are supported.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| RSV vaccine | A vaccine that protects against respiratory syncytial virus, a common cause of serious lung infections in infants and older adults. RSV vaccines for older adults and for pregnant women were first approved in 2023. Vaccines |
| Rubella | A viral disease, also called German measles, that is usually mild in children but can cause miscarriage or serious birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected. It is prevented by the MMR vaccine. Vaccines |
| Russell's teapot | An analogy by Bertrand Russell illustrating that the burden of proof lies with the person making an unfalsifiable claim, not with others to disprove it. Science Literacy |
| Salt Water Intrusion | Displacement of fresh or ground water by the advance of salt water due to its greater density, usually in coastal and estuarine areas. Climate Change |
| Sample | A subset of a population selected for study, used to draw conclusions about the whole population. Science General |
| Sample size | Sample size is the number of observations or participants included in a research study, survey, or experiment, chosen to represent a larger population. An appropriate sample size, determined by power calculation before research starts, is crucial to minimize error, ensure statistically significant results, and manage time/resource constraints. Science General |
| Scaling laws | Observed patterns showing that AI model performance tends to improve predictably as model size, data, and computing power increase. Artificial Intelligence |
| Science | A systematic way of building knowledge about the natural world through observation, experiment, and testable explanations that are revised as new evidence emerges. Science General |
| Science communicator | A person who explains scientific research to the public. Credible communicators accurately represent the state of the evidence and their own expertise. Science Literacy |
| Science denial | The rejection of well-established scientific findings, usually for ideological, political, financial, or personal reasons rather than evidence. It relies on recurring rhetorical techniques such as those in the FLICC framework. Science Literacy |