[Radix]

I have not read the article yet, but feel that a comment is necessary.

When I first took a Science course many years ago, I was taught that the first rule was...REJECTION OF AUTHORITY.

That no longer seems to be the case, and I have had discussions about it over the years, sometimes contentious.

IMHO, ROA should be the 1st rule and I am a bit alarmed that this process has seemingly been somewhat nuanced in recent years.

[Kirkwood]

"When I first took a Science course many years ago, I was taught that the first rule was...REJECTION OF AUTHORITY."

That is not a requirement or a part of the scientific method. Much of the time authority is correct. However, one should feel free to reject authority if the results suggest or demand it.

[Rudder]

Rejection of Authority was never a rule in science, although it may have been your teacher's way saying we shouldn't mindlessly heed authority. In the ideal world, science should neither reject nor embrace authority, but proceed with complete neutrality.