Beware the illusion of certainty: it can be weaponized

ABSTRACT

Witness Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the quintessence of scientific expertise, having to keep his cool in regular televised press briefings alongside US President Donald Trump, the personification of fact-free politics. In a delightful historical chapter, they show how oxytocin's perceived role shifted from chemical promoting quick birth to 'love hormone' of maternal care, to 'cuddle hormone' of partner bonding, to 'trust hormone' influencing social behaviour. Sarah de Rijcke is director of the Centre for Science and Technology Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, and co-chair of the Research on Research Institute. e-mail s.de.rijcke@cwts.leidenuniv.nl