ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Scientific control

Scientific control is a way to make sure the results of a scientific experiment are accurate. It means you create a "control" or "experimental" set of conditions to compare results against. For example, you might have one group of people that takes a new medicine, and another group of people that takes nothing at all (the control group). By comparing the results of the two groups, you can see if the new medicine is really making a difference or not.