In fact confusion is good. It shows honesty, and is way more exciting to the scientific community. I think however the intersection and pop culture and science

In fact confusion is good. It shows honesty, and is way more exciting to the scientific community. I think however the intersection and pop culture and science is what makes us queasy about scientific confusion. Often, while we don't know somethings completely, we know them quite well enough (anthropogenic global warming from carbon emissions, lung cancer from cigarette smoking etc). However, if there is scientific uncertainty it often becomes an invitation for quacks and charlatans - which is why scientists are sometimes so hesitant to speculate in public.