"Science is simply common sense at its best," which Thomas Huxley couldn't have said better. In our fast moving, always questioning and continuously discovering society it is evident that we just won't let things go. For several reasons, it's actually wonderful that we always seem so curious, eager, and alert. On the contrary, when it comes down to the facts (which means the accurate truth and not your interpretation), it seems that we are often so ignorant and near-sighted. Perhaps it's our natural human desire of wanting to be right or our personal stubbornness that hinders many from seeing the actuality of things. Regardless of what it may be, you cannot deny that science always has and always will exist; otherwise, it leads to the spread of false information and controversy concerning the biological, physical, and chemical evidence right before us.
Take for example the Anti-Vaccination movement. In recent years, the movement revived, instilling the fear in many people, particularly parents, that vaccines can lead to autism. Many Anti-vaccinators backed their claim by stating Dr. Andrew Wakefield's falsified data that connected autism with MMR vaccines, a study that was formally and completely retracted prior to social media's huge vaccine panic. Additionally, Wakefield's incredibly faulty study only connected autism with MMR, yet many people still used his work to falsely claim that several variations of vaccines actually cause autism.
While many began to understand that the study was nothing more than fraud, the revival of the Anti-vaccine Movement led to a larger population of parents who now refuse to give vaccinations to their children out of fear. This includes vaccinations that prevent chickenpox, measles, and whooping cough. Science skeptics and media took it upon themselves to further spread rumors of "the dangers of vaccines" even though they lacked any concrete evidence and often used research that had yet to be trialed or confirmed.
If Wakefield's false claim showed us anything, it's that people are willing to believe whatever so long as it matches their beliefs and prevents them from the fear of the unknown (particularly from the chemicals found in vaccines with names too long and complex for many). And while I admit that chemistry is not my friend and often times a scary thing, it very much exists. Chemistry and various other fields of science have led to so many scientific discoveries, including the medicines and vaccines we take for granted today. However, if you're still skeptical about the science behind medicine, vaccinations or even science in general, do not be afraid to ask questions, to challenge, to ask for direct evidence or to find a way to learn more. In the long run, hiding and protesting out of fear from what you don’t know is far more dangerous than the truth behind what could potentially kill you (like the many diseases that have been suppressed thanks to vaccines).
Beyond the Anti-Vaccination Movement, there are so many other aspects of science that people still reject. Though this doesn't include things of speculation like paranormal activity or human-like aliens, there is evidence out there for significant issues such as climate change, modern medicine, and diseases. And while we can formulate various arguments against everything, there are many issues that actually have concrete proof that so many refuse to simply listen to.
Honestly, it is scary to not know something. To the average person, science is an alien subject. But you are the living, breathing, and walking proof of science, and not knowing something should never be something to be afraid of. Instead, it should fill you with curiosity, fascination and, ultimately, with knowledge. While it's true that science is still so incomplete and that we still have so much to learn, it will be a never-ending journey of discovery concerning the universe we exist in, the world we live in and the life within it. So do your part and learn about science.
