Citizen Science #26 by Jamie Zvirzdin

Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Love for Science

This year we are examining great mysteries in physics, but we must first address a much more serious mystery: What is causing so many American citizens to turn their backs on the scientific method? Why are they dismissing and deriding the hard-won, life-saving, Earth-protecting, universe-expanding knowledge we have already earned—knowledge that has cost us dearly?

My hypothesis: Increased fear and distrust lead people to seek increased control in their lives, or at least the appearance of control. Fear and distrust make people crave certainty and unquestioning loyalty, and science—by its nature—embraces the opposite: uncertainty, revision, complexity, and scrutiny. No one is above being wrong, not even a venerated, quasi-worshipped physicist like Einstein. We just conveniently forget how often he was wrong, an example of confirmation bias (Citizen Science #7).

If someone is already feeling powerless, whether because of real threats or media-fueled outrage or panic, the human instinct to fight, flee or freeze kicks in. Constant exposure to heightened emotions fed to us through screens triggers the amygdala in our brains to act rashly over and over again, hijacking the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for logic, long-term planning, and self-control.

In this reactive state, which happens to all of us regardless of political persuasion, we don’t seek a nuanced understanding. We grasp at simple, black-or-white, all-or-nothing explanations. We blame groups of people, sometimes embracing literal black-or-white racism or stereotyped bigotry. We fixate on individual villains, one person we feel we can fight to regain control. We start to see everything through control-colored glasses, and we see through this glass darkly. Ironically, in this state, we ascribe to our adversaries more control than they actually have, which fuels the dark spiral of feeling powerless.

Science, unlike the control-seeking Sith in “Star Wars,” does not deal in absolutes. Science refines knowledge over time and distinguishes between not only shades of gray (in 16-bit-depth astrophysics imaging, 65,536 shades of gray!) but also all the colors in the rainbow—and even beyond, wavelengths of light human eyes can’t detect. While blindingly complex, the more accurate world we see through the lens of science is far richer and more luminous—one that does not comfort us with darkly false certainty but instead reveals the full spectrum of truth.

Yet when we’re in survival mode instead of thinking mode, the shifting, iridescent nature of scientific progress can feel threatening rather than beautiful. Conspiracy theories and pseudoscience thrive on the promise of an easy, constant, one-size-fits-all “Truth,” capital T, that grants followers a sense of control and pride. These false certainties are more immediately comforting than the patient, self-correcting, replicable nature of real science done honestly and done well.

Corporate interests have further distorted public trust in science. Industries that stand to lose money from scientific findings—from fossil fuels to tobacco to healing crystals to cosmetics—have long used public relations campaigns to manufacture doubt about well-established studies. This intentional confusion leads many to falsely believe that scientific consensus is unreliable.

Compounding this problem are bad actors in science itself—those who prioritize profit, prestige, or personal opinion over honest research. When scientists cut corners, misrepresent findings, or allow bias to creep in, they erode public trust in the entire scientific process. These individuals must be held accountable. I call on all scientists to recommit to honest, ethical research and transparency. If you see a colleague compromising the process, speak up. Science without integrity is worthless.

I likewise urge science teachers and professors to stop shaming students for not knowing what they came to class to learn. Set your ego aside and make room in your pedagogy for curiosity and honest mistakes. Science should be a beacon, not a bludgeon. Your worth as a teacher or a scientist isn’t measured by how much smarter you are than others, but by how well you help them adjust to the new worldview you offer them.

We must all work to restore rational thinking and bring the prefrontal cortex back online. That means giving our overstimulated amygdalas a break—disconnecting frequently from the flood of heightened emotions, stepping outside, breathing deeply, stretching, feeling the sun. It means rejecting tunnel vision, peeling science away from politics and rebuilding trust with neighbors. It means accepting the certainty of uncertainty in a dynamic, complex world. We owe it to ourselves, our communities, and our kids to face reality with clear eyes and steady minds.

Rational thinking does not mean inaction. I invite you, right now, to solve the Mystery of the Vanishing Love for Science yourself by calling your senators (https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm) and politely asking them to support scientific research for our soils, seas, skies, sanitation, sustenance and sanity. Call to protect scientists from unwise dismissal and undiscerning funding cuts. Call to support transparency and integrity in research that is as bias-free as humanly possible. Invite friends to call, too.

These 30-second, in-person calls to representatives are answered by staffers and tallied. One call won’t change policy, but hundreds or thousands will. Lawmakers care about reelection, and public opinion drives votes. If science matters to enough people, leaders will respond.

Here’s a template you can follow when calling: “Hello, my name is [your name], and I’m a concerned voter from [your city/state]. I’m calling to ask Senator [name] to support strong funding and protections for honest scientific research. Science is critical for our health, safety and a competitive economy. I urge Senator [name] to actively advocate for policies that stabilize funding and keep research free from political interference. Will Senator [name] commit to prioritizing scientific investment and integrity?”

Science belongs to all of us, beyond political divides. It heals, innovates, protects, inspires and anchors us to a shared reality, in this space and in this time. Trade in monochromatic fear and distrust for a richer vision: Embrace complexity and pull rigorous, replicable science back from the shadows into sharp and clear focus—where it belongs.

Jamie Zvirzdin researches cosmic rays with the Telescope Array Project, teaches science writing at Johns Hopkins University and is the author of “Subatomic Writing.”