A Formula to Keep the Science Flame Burning by James Hansen

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2025/Formula.08July2025.pdf

A Formula to Keep the Science Flame Burning

James Hansen - 08 July 2025

Why is the Trump Administration trying to kill a small space science institute in New York City? Explanation begins with Galileo’s method of scientific inquiry and ends with the role of special interest money in the United States government.

Galileo improved the telescope, allowing clearer observations of the planets and the Sun. Galileo differed from his peers, as he was unafraid to challenge authority. He claimed that the world should be understood based on observations, and he spoke directly to the public. He obtained philanthropic support for his observations and openly described the conclusion that Earth was not the center of the solar system – Earth revolved around the Sun.

Implications of Galileo’s approach rattled the establishment. Galileo was opposed not only by the Catholic Church, but by many professors who did not fully understand Galileo’s work and were reluctant to support a heretical viewpoint. At his Inquisition, Galileo recanted his views, to save his life. He could wait for history to vindicate him; the Scientific Revolution was beginning.

Science research and the primacy of observations were well advanced by October 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first human-made Earth satellite. The United States responded by forming NASA in 1958 and supporting universities to develop space scientists. I benefitted from that support and, as a 25-year-old post-doc in February 1967, drove with great expectations from Iowa City to New York City, pulling over only once for a few hours of sleep, my destination being the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) on the edge of the Columbia University campus.

…

[erronis]

1. It's incomprehensible to me why the RW wants to dismantle science.

Even they, with little ability to connect dots, know that their automobiles, airplanes, electric appliances, war machines, etc. require the knowledge that has come from science.

It must be that they want to restrict scientific knowledge to a privileged group while the rest need to be in the fields harvesting their vegetables.

[lastlib]

2. Understanding science makes people smart...

They. Don't. Want. Smart. People, who are harder to control because they can think critically. And science contradicts the myths they perpetuate to control people. As Jefferson said, "an informed and enlightened citizenry is the arch-enemy of tyranny." Smart, educated people are a threat to their desired tyranny.

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Back before the election, I had a conversation with one of my favorite pharmacy employees

I said, “You know, after World War II and then Sputnik, we realized that there was power in Science. Science was revered. Now, Science is reviled.” What happened, after a few moments, her insightful response was “People who understand Science ask questions."