Why You Need to Start Trusting Science

It’s surprising that in the 21st century people still question whether science can be trusted. We were all taught in school that if scientists found something, it had to be true.

But now, fewer people trust science. A recent study by Leibniz University of Hannover shows that Russia is among the five countries with the lowest trust in scientists.

This question might seem odd. The simple answer is that it's science. But many still want to know why this is happening. So, let’s explore the reasons.


Science is driven by questioning everything. The scientific method helps prevent false ideas from spreading. It involves checking facts repeatedly and carefully.

Most of a scientist’s debates happen with themselves first. When you think you’ve made a discovery, you check to see if it makes sense. You question your own work.

Then, colleagues in the lab review your ideas. They evaluate whether your findings are valid. After that, a scientific paper is written and sent to reviewers. It’s hard to lie in such a strict process. Lies or mistakes get caught.

If the discovery is real and important, other labs will test it after publication. If something doesn’t match up, the results are published. Sometimes, discoveries are retracted if they are proven false. This happens often, and everyone makes mistakes. Even Nobel winners.

Good discoveries are tested many times. Different scientists check them to confirm they are true. Over the years, science has built up a lot of solid knowledge we can trust. We know, for example, that the Earth is round. We know Newton's laws and how to use the periodic table.

In other areas, we have lots of knowledge too, like in religion and dance. But science keeps asking questions about what it learns. It does not accept things without proof.

Scientists analyze new findings carefully. A typical response to new discoveries is: “That’s not right, we will prove it wrong.” Unlike religion, these ideas are tested carefully. Often, they are examined through experiments or thought exercises.

In science, no one believes in miracles. Knowledge is what has been tested and confirmed through many tests. It is based on what matches real life. The scientific community can tell the difference between real science and nonsense easily.

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