I acted as an expert witness on complex high tech. The experience would be earth shattering to any STEM junkie. The judges were legal experts, political appointees - devoid of even the most basic technical understanding, and it was futility to even begin to explain anything that would have any impact whatever on their decision. In this particular case it was related to WTO tariffs - the existing classification system being at least 30 years behind the times. Ultimately the outcome was in our favor - but only because I managed to collect more Ph.D. witnesses on our side than the other's - I knew everybody in the industry. Nothing to do with the technical merits of the case as such. The issue was critical in preventing countervaling duties against Canadian export products.

As for Jack Reacher's point that seismic testing is harmless I would agree - but it would seem any FN agenda will garner headlines  thanks to popular ignorance. Scientific evidence irrelevant to the headlines ....