Science: Politics, Economy, or Art?

If someone had told me two years ago that science follows trends, I would’ve believed it. Foster, Rzhetsky and Evans (2015) found scientists mostly stick to safe, well-trodden ideas. After all, it’s a market like any other. If I had been informed that sexism and blind obedience among graduate students prevail, that too would make sense.

And if I had learned that people often pursue something just because they have funding for it, rather than its importance, that would’ve been believable too. But one thing I couldn’t accept was the idea that belief in science is an attitude, not mere knowledge. That truth is particularly evident in the realm of neuroscience.

Neuroscience is a melting pot, encompassing mathematicians, psychologists, biologists, chemists, IT experts, and engineers. The complexity of the human brain remains an enigma. While experiments and publications abound, a unified understanding remains elusive. 

This divergence is due to differing beliefs. For instance, after immersing myself in this field for 1.5 years, I believe that communication breakdowns between brain regions and poor signal processing underlie perception and mood issues, arising from an imbalance in neurotransmitter levels. A 2022 review by Moncrieff et al. found no consistent evidence linking depression to serotonin.

However, not everyone shares this belief. Some disregard brain computations, while others find the origins of mood mysterious, akin to questions about divinity.

Those revering phenomena like personality or happiness shun investigating neuronal activity, opting for trial-and-error treatment approaches instead of probing deep questions about the brain’s functions. Some focus solely on genetics, insisting on pinpointing the responsible gene before moving forward. Machine learning enthusiasts insist on proving that brain adaptability ceases in their studied phenomena.

Conflicts arise when skeptical reviewers challenge your approach. Justifying your standpoint doesn’t sway them, as their scientific faith differs from yours.

What Is the Publishing Hurdle in Science?

Publishers pose yet another hurdle. If an editor decides your manuscript won’t sell or be cited, it’s rejected.

While I haven’t faced this, it’s a possibility. Currently, I’m crafting an article that began as a review paper—a safe form of scientific work—yet it evolved into a visionary piece, proposing new solutions. 

These solutions might not resonate with everyone, as is common here. In a few weeks, I’ll submit it to a renowned journal, hoping for favorable reviews. Logic and strong arguments aside, reviewers’ personal beliefs hold sway.

From that point, all I can do is hope. I ask anyone reading this to keep their fingers crossed.

Observing the scientific community, I notice many scientists exhibit childlike traits, even emotionally mature individuals with deep introspection. Childhood habits persist unconsciously. For instance, childhood obsessions resurface. 

Why Do Scientists Stay ‘Children Forever’?

Much like kids craving the same bedtime story repeatedly, I often rewatch “The Major Fraud,” a BBC documentary about a British fraudster Charles Ingram. I’ve seen it countless times, yet its magic remains intact. Other scientists share the same patterns, repeating favored activities without pursuing new learning. It’s intriguing considering how quickly both scientists and children learn.

This phenomenon extends to other traits, like curiosity and mobility. At work, I bounce on a large exercise ball instead of using a chair, and my colleagues do the same. It’s quite the spectacle—people bouncing on rubber balls. 

Outside work, my hyperactivity occasionally leads to minor mishaps, like a tumble on icy streets while cycling. A grazed knee and elbow were the result, fortunately not worse.

My environment seems to share this somewhat clumsy disposition. A bunch of excited children seems an accurate description of my hallway.

Perhaps we were destined for science, fated to never fit into ‘normal’ jobs or the business world. Maybe our rational, disciplined natures always leaned this way.

Sometimes I ponder this as I consider life’s alternatives. Perhaps there is no alternative at all…