AfterMath

Science keeps coming up with amazing new discoveries, like the recent LIGO observation of a supernova event in which gravitational waves, neutrinos and gamma rays (light) were all seen together for the first time, expanding the new science of gravitational astronomy to a new level.

Unfortunately, the researchers also determined that the event occurred some 1.1 billion years ago, in concurrence with the 13.8 billion-year age of the universe but in disagreement with the belief of biblical creationists that the universe is only 6,000 years old. When Trump Administration officials get word of what science continues to tell us, they may decide to shut down LIGO and similar facilities for fear that their conservative young-Earth supporters will get angry.

A little background: By tracing the genealogies of the Old Testament, in 1650 the Irish Archbishop James Ussher determined that God created the universe on October 22, 4004 BC, around 6:00 pm. He did not specify in which time zone it occurred.

Up to now, young-Earth creationists have had to rely on the unquestioning belief of their adherents that the Bible is the only truth, regardless of what science says. Occasionally, they were able to use a little science on their side, like the recent discovery of soft tissue material in a (supposedly) 70 million-year-old Edmontosaur skeleton. Creationists have decided that this discovery confirms that dinosaurs cannot be more than 6,000 years old.

In only a little more than a month in office, President Trump has shut down many science facilities and programs, leading to the elimination of thousands of positions. And this is only the start: the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), lead by uber-billionaire Elon Musk, is looking into all manner of government-financed scientific, social and domestic programs to cut, supposedly to save taxpayer dollars but actually intended to give its rich backers another source of wealth. DOGE is especially focussing on eliminating what it sees as liberal-biased programs like the National Science Foundation, PBS, 60 Minutes and National Public Radio. Already, once somewhat liberal outlets like the New York Times and even National Geographic have swung to the right in support of more conservative views. Even Amazon.com, owned by giga-billionaire Jeff Bezos, is showing the same signs.

I recall being shocked reading the prescient 2016 book The War on Science—Who's Waging It, Why It Matters and What We Can Do About It. Now Trump is bringing a whole new meaning to what the war on science has become. (I bought the book from Amazon in the year before Trump first won the presidency. Now it's now even listed on the site.)

You might remember the word "truthiness" when it was first coined by comedian Stephen Colbert in 2005. He was referring to the lack of veracity in the policies of then-President George Bush, and his administration's lies involving its justification for the disastrous Iraq War. Now we are living in a country where truth, transparency and accountability no longer exist.

And it seems Americans still could not care less. When will I learn?