The comment you quote moves too easily from the scientific method to scientists. Yes, scientists are human, and some of them are flawed, valuing adulation more

The comment you quote moves too easily from the scientific method to scientists. Yes, scientists are human, and some of them are flawed, valuing adulation more than anything. The scientific method seems to be pretty good at flushing these people out, judging from the steady stream of stories about fraud in science. To complete the analogy about the awe attached to some science popularizers, the Catholic Church doesn't seem quite as good at self-correction. I can't think of another human institution that is.