"Facts are the air of scientists. Without them you can never fly"

Linus Pauling’s words evoke the centrality of facts in scientific practice, drawing a vivid analogy between air and factual evidence. Just as air supports flight, facts enable scientists to undertake discovery, experimentation, and innovation. Scientists depend on verifiable data as the foundation of their pursuit for knowledge. In the absence of such data, scientific thought is unmoored, leaving theory and speculation suspended with no means to advance. Factual observations provide the raw material from which hypotheses are crafted, experiments are devised, and theories are refined or replaced. Each scientific achievement, whether a revolutionary breakthrough or a humble refinement of existing knowledge, is propelled by careful accumulation, analysis, and interpretation of facts.

The metaphorical comparison highlights a key principle: science does not progress through conjecture unanchored by evidence. Creative ideas and bold hypotheses are essential to scientific progress, but they must be tested against the reality of what is observed. Just as no aircraft can rise in a vacuum, no scientific claim can gain credibility or ‘take off’ in a vacuum devoid of supporting evidence. The validity and reliability of research hinge on its fidelity to empirical, measurable truths. Disregarding or manipulating facts undermines not only individual studies but the entire structure of scientific knowledge, which is cumulative and collaborative.

The ‘air’ of facts also suggests a broader responsibility. For scientific communities and societies, it is imperative to ensure that facts are freely available, accurately communicated, and fiercely protected against distortion. Much as flight is only possible in a healthy atmosphere, scientific advancement flourishes when factual integrity is upheld. The metaphor further underscores the fragility and value of truth in science; without a steady supply of facts, human curiosity, ingenuity, and reasoning cannot transcend the limits of myth or mere belief. Only through a relentless commitment to facts can science fulfill its promise of illuminating reality and propelling humanity forward.