Query: It shows that ECS is probably between two and 4.5 degrees, possibly as low as 1.5 but not lower, and possibly as high as nine degrees.

Relevant passages:
Bachelor's degree <=SEP=> A bachelor 's degree ( from Middle Latin baccalaureus ) or baccalaureate ( from Modern Latin baccalaureatus ) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to seven years ( depending on institution and academic discipline ) . In some institutions and educational systems , some bachelor 's degrees can only be taken as graduate or postgraduate degrees after a first degree has been completed . In countries with qualifications frameworks , bachelor 's degrees are normally one of the major levels in the framework ( sometimes two levels where non-honours and honours bachelor 's degrees are considered separately ) , although some qualifications titled bachelor 's degrees may be at other levels ( e.g. MBBS ) and some qualifications with non-bachelor 's titles may be classified as bachelor 's degrees ( e.g. the Scottish MA and Canadian MD ) .   The term bachelor in the 12th century referred to a knight bachelor , who was too young or poor to gather vassals under his own banner . By the end of the 13th century , it was also used by junior members of guilds or universities . By folk etymology or wordplay , the word baccalaureus came to be associated with bacca lauri ( `` laurel berry '' ) in reference to laurels being awarded for academic success or honours .   Under the British system , and those influenced by it , undergraduate academic degrees are differentiated as either non-honours degrees ( known variously as pass degrees , ordinary degrees or general degrees ) or honours degrees , the latter sometimes denoted by the addition of '' ( Hons ) '' after the degree abbreviation . An honours degree generally requires a higher academic standard than a pass degree , and in some systems an additional year of study beyond the non-honours bachelor 's . In some countries , e.g. Australia , there is a `` postgraduate '' bachelor 's honours degree , which may be taken as a consecutive academic degree , continuing on from the completion of a bachelor 's degree program in the same field , or ( in a similar manner to the UK system ) as part of an integrated honours program .

Degrees of freedom (physics and chemistry) <=SEP=> In physics , a degree of freedom is an independent physical parameter in the formal description of the state of a physical system . The set of all dimensions of a system is known as a phase space , and degrees of freedom are sometimes referred to as its dimensions .

Equator <=SEP=> An equator is the intersection of the surface of a rotating spheroid ( such as a planet ) with the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and midway between its poles .  On Earth , the Equator is an imaginary line on the surface , equidistant from the North and South Poles , dividing the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres . It is about 40,075 km long , of which 78.7 % lies across water and 21.3 % over land .

Six degrees of separation <=SEP=> Six degrees of separation is the idea that all living things and everything else in the world are six or fewer steps away from each other so that a chain of `` a friend of a friend '' statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps . It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized in an eponymous 1990 play written by John Guare .

Master's degree <=SEP=> A master 's degree ( from Latin magister ) is a second-cycle academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice . A master 's degree normally requires previous study at the bachelor 's level , either as a separate degree or as part of an integrated course . Within the area studied , master 's graduates are expected to possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of theoretical and applied topics ; high order skills in analysis , critical evaluation , or professional application ; and the ability to solve complex problems and think rigorously and independently .