Thus the Financial Times today. “Scientists produce what they say is groundbreaking research,” the newspaper adds triumphantly. Of course, the research in question focuses on last year’s freak events, but this year is as freaky as the last. The scientists are cautious about this year, though. It is still too early to be absolutely sure about the link between climate change and the latest events, such as storms in America and floods in Britain, the newspaper points out. However, the scientists behind the research are proud to explain events within months of their occurrence rather than decades, as before. Which is why they call the research groundbreaking. Congratulations! Now we know that freak weather can be linked to climate change. Phew! This is yet another example of the leading rôle of science in society. Without it, we could never be absolutely sure about anything.