Yes Peter, and also a route to funding.
We are seeing this Phishing more and more.
Just in the last couple of years we have seen, the "Dyson Sphere" star
with the researching scientist raising thousands of dollars through the
popularizing of said "theory" or possibility of it being extraterrestrial.
Turns out it is dust,but she got her money and 15 minutes of fame, even a TV program to boot.
Another one that comes to mind is the Fast radio bursts" also putting out the
possibilities of being not natural.
One even turned out at Parks as the Microwave in the kitchen.
Soon they will be putting out adds on prime time TV.
Too many scientists in my opinion are putting out what can be taken as fact
but are really only conjecture coated in honey.
My two cents worth.
