"Now, I don't want to idealize this. To claim that scientists are free of bias, ambition or desires would be ridiculous. Everyone has pet ideas that they hope are right; and scientists are not famous for humility. (Think of the opening sentence of "The Double Helix," James Watson's account of his and Francis Crick's discovery of the structure of DNA: "I have never seen Francis Crick in a modest mood." Those words could be said of many who have not gone on to win a Nobel prize.) " Olivia JUdson, NYT