Why are “scientists” and “experts” so hungry for attention? Every 10 minutes it’s something else.
Well if you’re at a academic institution its how productivity is “demonstrated”. Note I didn’t say this was a good measure but’s its one of the common measures. Also at an academic institution the school PR department is always looking for something to write about. If its not sports they’re often at a loss for something to prove their productivity. So they write “golly gee whiz look at this” articles on the academic research going on. Often very inaccurate but long on hyperbole, exaggeration, metaphor and things to grab people’s attention. Which is how every press person writes these days.