Three hundred ninety-three years ago today, Galileo Galilei faced a choice: recant his scientific views or risk his life. The Vatican demanded he publicly state that the Earth sits at the center of the universe—opposite to everything his telescopes had revealed. According to Nautilus, the father of modern science chose survival over scientific integrity. It stands as one of history's most emblematic moments of institutional authority crushing scientific truth, a struggle that echoes through our own time.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton