"They examine the forces driving the anti-science movement from supporters of the fossil fuel industry who deny climate change to social media influencers who spread conspiracy theories which they characterize as a "complex spiderweb of malevolence." But though they are worried, they are not pessimists. "While there is urgency unlike any we've ever known there is still agency," they write. "We can still avert disaster if we can understand the nature of the mounting anti-science threat and formulate a strategy to counter it.""
"Mr. Kennedy, he's deeply dug in, and I know he's not interested in the science, or he can't understand the science, or both. That's why I didn't want to debate him. I remember telling him about some of the environmental factors linked with autism and saying to him, "You should be all over this. You're an environmental attorney." But he had no interest in it because he was too busy, too fixated on vaccines, which have nothing to do with autism."
Anti-science forces include fossil-fuel industry climate deniers, social media influencers spreading conspiracies, and entrenched vaccine skepticism that misattributes autism to vaccines. These forces combine into a coordinated web that undermines public-health measures and climate action and exploits digital misinformation channels. The situation carries unprecedented urgency but remains actionable; understanding the threat's structure can enable targeted strategies to counter misinformation. Some prominent skeptics reject or ignore scientific evidence, hindering constructive engagement. Policy responses, public education, and accountability for disinformation actors are necessary tools to avert further harm.
Read at www.npr.org
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