Epistemic Standards & Uncertainty Labeling
Science advances by quantifying uncertainty. Every FastCosmos page carries an explicit epistemic status badge and separates model-independent observables from model-dependent inferences.
The Four Epistemic Status Badges
| Badge Tier | Definition & Criteria |
|---|---|
Strong Observational Evidence (strong-observational-evidence) | Directly measured across multiple independent instruments, wavelengths, or geometric baselines. |
Widely Accepted Model (standard-model-consensus) | Supported by converging lines of theoretical and observational evidence within modern astrophysics. |
Active Research Frontier (active-research-frontier) | Physical mechanism or parameter regime under active investigation by current space and ground surveys. |
Competing Interpretations (competing-interpretations) | High-precision measurements or theoretical models remain in unresolved statistical tension. |
Reporting Uncertainties Honestly
Every measurement in our shared knowledge graph records its unit, 1σ symmetric or asymmetric error bars (or upper/lower confidence limits), measurement method, and reference epoch. When independent high-precision methods disagree—such as early-universe vs late-universe H₀ determinations or radio vs optical parallaxes for red supergiants—we present both measurements and explain the physical and calibration assumptions behind each.