In 2012, cognitive scientist Stephan Lewandowsky and colleagues published a paper in Psychological Science on conspiracy theories among those who do not accept the scientific consensus on climate change. The paper drew significant attention (perhaps in part because of its provocative title). Many who don’t accept mainstream climate science bristled at being associated with people who reject other established science, such as the fact that we landed on the Moon.

Interestingly, some of the climate “skeptics” that were the subject of the paper then proceeded to unwittingly validate the study by relentlessly attacking Lewandowsky, his research methods, and the University of Western Australia, the university that employed him.