How the Edge of Our Galaxy Defies Known Physics

I've spent many, many, many years in "academia." I respect & encourage EVERYONE to obtain a higher level of education. But, I realized early-on that academia (specifically the "sciences") had a SEVERE shortcoming that rendered me completely unable to even CONSIDER most "theories" seriously: a non-wavering stubbornness, attitude, and approach to all data/evidence which contradicts the paradigm. Put more plainly, if contrary (or even puzzling) evidence/data is acquired via observation/experiment, it has become FAR TOO COMMON to just DEVELOPE a NARRATIVE which leaves the current paradigm intact. 
Enter "Dark Matter," "Dark Energy." 
Don't get me wrong, I understand you can't just tear-down theories because of one piece of data. HOWEVER, if that data has you INVENTING THINGS / TERMS it's clear to me some amount of resources need to be used to REEVALUATE the prerequisite knowledge. 
Instead of just assuming everything we know is correct, we should dedicate 5% of our BEST scientists to assume EVERYTHING we know is WRONG. Nobody in academia actively looks for the "unbelievable" because if they find it, it won't be accepted anyways.
Rick Sanchez is right: School is not for smart people. It's for the highly programmable. (And the financially motivated.)