Agree that true consensus is rare, albeit only a problem in some fields. Physics and chemistry have no problems obtaining consensus on many facts, for example.

Agree that true consensus is rare, albeit only a problem in some fields. Physics and chemistry have no problems obtaining consensus on many facts, for example. I don't recognize that last part at all. Feels sometimes like modern news articles aren't complete without some academic "expert" popping up and telling people what to think. Most universities outright encourage researchers to talk to the media these days, and it's not like they needed encouragement to start with.