Yale University astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan is well-known for her studies on galaxy formation and dark matter. In her writing, she employs perceptive metaphors to help a wider audience understand difficult scientific ideas. One of her well-known quotations contrasts the difficulties scientists encounter when their theories mainly rely on data gathered from crowdsourcing or conclusions reached by consensus.

Consider that there isn't a bridge available and you are organizing a hike across a broad river. Rather, someone proposes constructing a bridge with the help of everyone who wishes to cross—planks are placed here and there without any kind of overall strategy or supervision. At first glance, this strategy might appear democratic and inclusive, but it soon becomes evident that such a bridge would be disorderly, unsteady, and possibly dangerous.

Natarajan's quote emphasizes the value of thorough peer review, reliable data collection techniques, and individual accountability in scientific research as opposed to depending only on consensus or group opinion. For scientific theories and findings to withstand scrutiny, rigorous testing, critical evaluation, and adherence to established methodologies are necessary, much like a well-built bridge needs meticulous planning and high-quality materials to ensure safety and dependability.

In domains where accuracy and dependability are critical, this metaphor emphasizes the importance of fundamental ideas and methodical approaches over the possible drawbacks of depending too much on group dynamics or collective input.