Hi, I'm Wendy Zuckerman and you're listening to Science Furses from Gimlet.

Recently, we've been watching a lot of science happen in real time.

And sometimes it got messy.

During the pandemic, we've seen experts tell us things about whether we should wear masks or how dangerous surfaces are.

And then seemed to flip-flop as more evidence came in.

And this back and forth, it can be confusing.

But it's also how science is supposed to work.

Scientists pushing each other, making sure that the evidence really holds up.

And as confusing as it is to be in the middle of it, what's worse is when science doesn't work this way.

And that's the story we're telling you about today.

It's a cautionary tale of what happens when the nerds fall down on the job.

When one voice, a scientist with a very bad idea, gets amplified and goes basically unchallenged.

And there are terrible consequences.

It all starts here, more than 100 years ago.

They should put a plaque up here. Here lies bad science.

I think we'll just walk around the perimeter, right?

Like, I don't know if today's the day to get arrested.

Well, let's see.

Right?

I mean, maybe today is the day.

I'm with Caitlin Sori, our former senior producer.

I'm at what's left of this old boarding school in New Jersey.

...