Best post ever. As a geologist, I have always been fascinated by how the historic progression of earth sciences has been slowed down and even stopped for long periods of time by appeals to institutional authority. From uniformitarianism vs. universal ocean precipitates, to plate tectonics and continental drift vs. a variety of now defunct explanations for mountain building (such as the earth shrinking and wrinkling like an old apple). You have hit the nail directly on its head re the discarding of any semblance of scientific method in the "science" around this pandemic. I have found myself completely astonished by the pseudoscience BS coming from public health "authorities" and universities. Horrified at the rather brutal suppression of alternative opinion and debate. Scientists MUST be seriously sceptical. One who purports to be a scientist without scepticism, without willingness to consider other interpretations of the data, is a poseur, a fraud, despite degrees and positions. Lots of those around these days it appears.