Perhaps it has always been so: the scientist rewrites the script on the basis of a new discovery, the public rejects it as being contrary to common sense, and subsequent discoveries confirm the original work to such a degree that its worth and veracity cannot be denied. What has not always been the case, however, is the contribution made by the mass media and the lobbyists who have learned to exploit these stages to their advantage.
The mass media is designed to bring information quickly to public attention, but it is also geared for controversy. Strongly conflicting views make for a livelier debate and enhance the entertainment value of the information. Lobbyists exploit both of these aspects to raise questions about the value and safety of new discoveries and feed public uncertainty. Doubts are raised, the public begins to mistrust its own "experts" and science falls into disrepute as a contaminator of the world, a poisoner of our food and a polluter of our air.