There was an article on HN recently about how science is moving past the scientific method by using models rather than testing hypotheses with experiments. I'm not sure I consider this "science", but still.
There was no evidence for plate tectonics either, until they started looking for it. And, obviously, the burden was on the new hypothesis to prove itself.
I'm not saying we should encourage Flat Earthers to present at Astronomy conferences. I'm saying we should not try to shut them up. That "safety" you're talking about has to be boundless, because if there are bounds then they will shrink. Are shrinking.
There was no evidence for plate tectonics either, until they started looking for it. And, obviously, the burden was on the new hypothesis to prove itself.
I'm not saying we should encourage Flat Earthers to present at Astronomy conferences. I'm saying we should not try to shut them up. That "safety" you're talking about has to be boundless, because if there are bounds then they will shrink. Are shrinking.