A bit on research

Mark does an interesting bit as well about this as well. The long and short of it; the process of "doing science" is an inherently political and economic process, and if you want pure science, you must re-start the Black Plague in London and get the next Newton back under the apple tree in the country.

Another way of describing the phenomenon; no scientist makes a name for himself by confirming the null hypothesis, or by verifying what is already thought to be known. In the same way, no scientist gains funding or prestige by running counter to the whims of those making the grants.

So when you see the hot new results, don't forget the process that generated them, and look at them with a grain of salt.