What Scientists Fear Most

I'm going to tell you a secret. I know what scientists fear most. You ready? Here goes...

Being wrong.

That's it. It's fairly simple. In a world where politics, entertainment, and sports all teeter on the brink of ridiculousness and exaggeration, scientists work their best to remain above the fray. They seek truth. They seek knowledge. They want to learn how things work. They want to understand how things look, act, grow, or change. They want to be able to predict the future based on what has happened in the past. They do their best to follow simple rules.

• Don't lie.
• Don't cheat.
• Don't steal.
• Don't make shit up.
• Question. Test. Ponder. Decide. Report. Repeat.

It's their belief that everything can be explained with enough time, resources, and ingenuity. Mysteries, myths, and magical powers are just unknowns yet to be known. Want a simple example? Let's talk thunder. Scientists know that thunder doesn't rumble because god is angry or your dead grandpa is bowling in heaven. Thunder rumbles because lightning essentially rips through the air making it go boom. Or, more technically, the lightning heats the air causing it to rapidly expand, releasing energy as sound waves. This mystery has been explained. As have many, many, many others.

I am a scientist. I am inquisitive, passionate, and disciplined. I care about accuracy, repeatability, and applicability. I believe there is a need for more scientists to speak up. Therefore, I started this website to put myself out there. Like other scientists, I feel the constant pressure that our research is constantly dismissed, overlooked, or refused. That some people think scientists are kooks or crooks. That we make stuff up to make things harder on everyone else. Those type of claims couldn't be farther from the truth. Our livelihoods and reputations absolutely hinge on how good our science is. We want to help. We provide answers and insights that others can use to decide the best solution for life's problems. If we make mistakes, people  may suffer. We didn't go to school for all those years just to throw it away on something frivolous. Mistakes happen. It's our job to make sure they don't.