The Canon (54 page)

quantitative reasoning.
See also
probability; statistics

evidence and,
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probability and,
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,
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thinking scientifically and,
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"quantum leap,"
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,
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quark,
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,
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,
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radar,
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radioactive isotopes,
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radio waves,
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randomness

entropy and,
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natural selection and,
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patterns and,
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reality, subjective vs. objective,
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red blood cells,
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red-eyed tree frog,
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Redford, Kent,
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redshift,
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reductionism,
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regression to mean,
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relativity, special theory of,
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,
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religion and science

astronomy,
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,
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evolution,
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,
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,
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–
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mysteries and,
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revolutionary ideas,
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ribosomes,
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rigidity, of materials,
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risk assessment,
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risk factor,
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RNA,
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Robinson, Gene,
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Roentgen, Wilhelm,
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Rubner, Michael,
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Sadoway, Donald,
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,
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–
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Safire, William,
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Saleton, William,
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Salle, David,
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Salon
(online magazine),
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,
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salt (sodium chloride),
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sample size,
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sample space,
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San Andreas Fault,
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scale

cosmic distance and,
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,
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fundamental forces and,
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intuitive concepts and,
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scientific notation and,
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smallness and,
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time and,
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,
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units of measurement and,
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Schmidt, Maarten,
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Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT),
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Schwarz, John,
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science awareness

civic arguments for,
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common worries and,
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essential ideas and,
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fun of science and,
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lack of,
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public cynicism and,
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scientists and,
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,
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uncertainty and,
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science education

adolescence and,
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,
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careers in science and,
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evolution in,
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math and,
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misconceptions and,
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for nonchildren,
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–
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,
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place of physics in,
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science writing

critical thinking and,
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fact checking and,
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math and,
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process of,
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science awareness and,
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scientific notation

large numbers and,
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,
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small numbers and,
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scientists

consensus and,
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egos of,
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need for,
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public apathy and,
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skepticism and,
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support for basic research and,
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sea floor,
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,
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seasonality,
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sea squirt (tunicate),
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"seismic," meaning of,
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SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence),
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sexual selection,
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Shankar, Ramamurti,
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,
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,
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shells (atomic),
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,
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shooting star,
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Shubin, Neil,
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,
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Silber, Sherman,
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Singapore Air,
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Singh, Simon,
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single-celled organisms,
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–
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singularity,
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.
See also
Big Bang

skepticism,
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–
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Slate
(online magazine),
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smallness

cells and,
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–
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,
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scale and,
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solar system

distances in,
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expansion of universe and,
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formation of,
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night sky and,
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,
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stability and,
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solid state,
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Solomon Island leaf frog,
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solvents,
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,
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Sonoran plateau,
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space.
See
astronomy; empty space; universe

speed of light,
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,
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spider species,
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spin synchronization,
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Sports Illustrated
jinx,
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stardust,
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,
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star-nosed mole,
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stars

composition of human body and,
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distances between,
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galaxies and,
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giant,
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night sky and,
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,
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number of,
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static electricity,
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statistics

"average" and,
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bell curve and,
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correlation vs. causation and,
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critical thinking and,
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defenses against lies in,
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lying with,
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sample size and,
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significance and,
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,
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Steidel, Chuck,
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,
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Steinberg, Saul,
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stem cells,
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,
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,
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Sternberg, Paul,
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Stevenson, David,
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,
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,
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,
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stick insect,
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stickleback fish,
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stock market predictions,
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Strobel, Scott,
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–
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,
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,
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strong force,
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,
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subatomic charge,
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–
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,
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subatomic particles,
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.
See also
electrons; neutrons; protons

subjective reality,
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sublimation,
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succulents,
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–
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sugar,
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,
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sun.
See also
solar system

fusion and,
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life span of,
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solar radiation and,
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Sundrum, Raman,
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sunlight,
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,
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supernova,
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,
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superstitious thinking

probabilities and,
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science and,
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swallowtail caterpillar,
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symbiotic bacteria,
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taxonomic system,
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"tectonic shift," meaning of,
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telescopes,
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,
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deep-space,
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temperature, units of,
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.
See also
heat

termites,
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terms in science,
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,
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.
See also
scale

Tethys Sea,
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"theory," in science

evolution and,
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plate tectonics and,
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predictive power of,
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thermal conductivity,
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thermodynamics

first law of,
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second law of,
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–
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,
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thermonuclear fusion,
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thinking scientifically,
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–
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critical thinking vs. cynicism,
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in everyday life,
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evidence and,
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–
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facts and,
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–
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intuitive concepts and,
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–
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language of mathematics and,
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–
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mysteries and,
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–
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objective reality and,
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–
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statistics and,
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–
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uncertainty and,
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–
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Thiomargarita namibiensis
(bacterium),
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Thomas, Lewis,
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thymine,
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time

everyday sense of,
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–
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,
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–
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scientific notation and,
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tooth decay,
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toucan,
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Trefil, James,
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