[Ditto]

We should also think hard about whether Hwang's deceit went undetected for months because so many scientists and science journalists wanted to believe that ESC research was progressing rapidly, because that would hasten the arrival of miraculous therapies and other biomedical wonders boatloads of money from government agencies and PR conscience foundations.

There. That makes a little more sense now.

[Mamzelle]

Well, there's money--but there's also prestige and status. Wang was a huge celebrity in SK--if you check his picture, he's a pretty fellow. Haven't seen him speak, but I'm willing to guess he has that star quality that eventually turns people into fools and knaves.

And I think there's the "losing one's head in excitement" factor, which makes it all the more tempting to fudge facts.