Glossary
Partial-word, boolean (AND, OR, NOT) and "exact phrase" searches are supported.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Slippery slope | Claiming that a small step will inevitably lead to a chain of extreme consequences, without evidence for each step. Science Literacy |
| Slothful induction | Refusing to accept a well-supported conclusion despite strong evidence, often by dismissing the evidence as coincidence. Science Literacy |
| Small sample size | Too few observations to draw reliable conclusions, which makes chance results more likely. Science Literacy |
| Smallpox | A deadly viral disease that killed hundreds of millions of people over history. A global vaccination campaign led to its eradication, declared by the World Health Organization in 1980. Vaccines |
| Snake oil | A product sold with false or exaggerated claims about its benefits, especially a fraudulent medicine. Science Literacy |
| Social cost of carbon | An estimate of the economic damage caused by emitting one additional tonne of carbon dioxide, used to weigh the benefits of climate policies. Climate Change |
| Solar Radiation | Radiation emitted by the Sun. It is also referred to as short-wave radiation. Solar radiation has a distinctive range of wavelengths (spectrum) determined by the temperature of the Sun. Climate Change |
| Solar radiation modification (SRM) | Proposed methods to cool the planet by reflecting more sunlight back to space, such as injecting aerosols into the stratosphere. It would not reduce carbon dioxide and carries significant risks. Climate Change |
| Solar system | The Sun and all the objects that orbit it, including eight planets, their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets. Science General |
| Solution | A uniform mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another. Science General |