Big News From Mars? Rover Scientists Mum For Now
Can I just for a moment question their PR strategy here?Them saying they have found something big leads to speculation, speculation that might paint the image of an discovery much bigger than what was actually discovered. Scientists are understandably enthusiastic about this, but they also have to keep in mind that when they just use words to describe the importance of the discovery without naming the discovery itself, it’s easy for them to get it very, very wrong. Something for the history books for them might well be something most people really couldn’t care less about.I think the adult thing of saying that it is possible you discovered x but you still need confirmation may well work, if you know how to frame it correctly. But whatever you do, don’t say anything about history books, not before you are really sure.Alternatively you shut up and say nothing to the public until you are sure.This whole “We have discovered something huge but we can’t tell you what until we are really sure!” seems very misguided to me.I think this is just a case of bad PR, not bad science reporting or anything like that.