The earth is flat, climate change is a hoax, COVID-19 was made up, the moon landing was faked, and every person in power is an interdimensional shape-shifting lizard. All false — right? Shockingly, for millions of Americans, the answer would be no, and according to the Guardian, almost 12 million people believe in the last theory. Although it seems to be an increasingly unpopular opinion, science is crucial for our future.
According to a University of New Hampshire study, only 53% to 83% of Americans agree with basic statements of scientific fact and common knowledge, such as “the Earth is billions of years old” or “the Earth revolves around the sun.” These simple misconceptions of science can easily evolve into something more harmful. Pew Research determined in 2021 that 22% of U.S. adults have very little confidence that medical scientists act in the best interest of the public. Views of science — notably medical science — have changed tremendously in the past 100 years. The internet has made it easier than ever for misinformation to spread. Yet, we still need medical advancements, which can be largely propelled forward by public support, and this is reflected in the lives saved.
In the early 20th century, families lived in enough fear of polio that they kept their children away from public spaces. When the effective polio vaccine was announced, there were celebrations across the country. In 2025, when the dangers of polio seem so far-fetched, childhood vaccination rates have dropped, and polio has been found in the wastewater of developed nations. Because of a lack of belief in childhood vaccinations, we see almost eradicated diseases reemerge.
Another notable yet denied advancement in human health is milk pasteurization. This innovation has saved millions of lives, according to Philanthropy Roundtable. However, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reported that 24% of people believe raw milk is just as safe or safer than regular milk. The CDC reports that raw milk is full of dangerous bacteria and also spreads the bird flu. Medical denial is not just a personal danger — it places everyone in danger. Denials like these are fueled by two crucial things: the internet and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social media and the internet at large are full of misleading information. This information, though entirely false, leaks into medical science and finds its way into doctors’ offices. MIT Technology Review reports that there has been a rise in “contested illnesses” or diseases that people do not believe in. They attribute this directly to social media. Moreover, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are spending much more time looking at fake health content on social media. The International Monetary Fund states that trust in government and scientists decreases after exposure to epidemics. The trust gap only pushes people towards alternative medicine and conspiracy theories.
The true tragedy is that our world is on the precipice of overwhelmingly beneficial scientific discoveries. The fastest vaccine on record before 2020 took four years to develop. The COVID vaccine took less than 12 months. We see life-changing research into stem cells that could treat cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and even regenerate limbs. We are on the verge of being able to genetically modify children’s DNA to prevent disease. The World Health Organization reports that immunizations have saved over 154 million lives in the last fifty years. Penicillin has saved somewhere between 80 to 100 million lives alone. Because of medical rejection, funding has stalled across the NIH, with research halted on crucial mRNA vaccines for diseases like COVID-19 and bird flu. Because we have stopped believing in medicine, critical research goes undiscovered.
Throughout human history, medical advancements have been universally celebrated. The consensus has always been to respect those educated in medicine and follow their advice. As we cease to do so, we see lives lost. Instead of donning our tinfoil hats, we should all think more logically about our health. Modern medicine is not a belief system; it is a science. By refusing to follow it, we only put ourselves, those we love, and the global community in danger.