In the video I referenced a couple days ago, one of the guys mentioned scientific research reform. It brought to the front of my mind some thoughts that I have been thinking in my head for a while.
Scientific advancement is like a maze. You run along until you hit a dead end and then go back and start again. Trial and error. The issue that I have seen and that I think the guy was alluding to, was that at a certain point, if you have been going down a path long enough, it becomes politically dangerous to back up or not be on that path. Even if the path has dead ended there is enough organizational inertia that turning around and starting over just isn't an option.
When that happens funding for non-conforming views dries up. Careers are at risk for embracing apposing views. It is logistically difficult to do the actual science.
So I think there should be a research institute for "crackpots" and I mean that in the most endearing way. We need to explore those routes in the maze that are probably dead ends. Even if the "experts" "know" it is. If the actual science has not been done it needs to be. We are not good at judging things like that as humans. That is why the scientific method is so important.
We need to provide funding so "dumb" ideas can be rigorously tested so we KNOW it is a dead end and that we can move ahead with confidence. The confidence of data and not just "there is no way that is true".
The risk is that we push a dead end for years and years and lose precious time and resources on "the obvious truth" when in fact it isn't. A few tens of millions of dollars is totally worth the confidence we are heading the right direction.
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