science-funding-crisis

Oscar faces escalating and automated death threats linked to political corruption surrounding the Collaboratory, compelling him to adopt heightened security measures and seek refuge in the Hot Zone while continuing his investigative work. The chapter explores the tension between scientific research and political intrigue, highlighting Oscar's psychological strain under constant threat and the bureaucratic challenges faced by scientists like Greta Penninger, who nostalgically reflects on a past era of robust, peer-reviewed science funding.