Why Do Americans Mistrust Science? | Opinion

Scientific skepticism is nothing new, but outright mistrust of science has reached historic highs. Polling showed that nearly 1 in 4 Americans have “not too much” or “no confidence at all” in scientists. There is an important role for caution and critical questioning when it comes to science. Science has been used in dangerous and nefarious ways—like reinforcing racist ideologies and public policies—and currently the moral and social implications of artificial intelligence require critical debate. But blanket distrust and outright rejection of science at the scale we’re seeing today is problematic and dangerous.