We know science is one way we can get close to that thing we call the truth. But to get there, we need courageous scientists to ask the right questions.

We know the history of science is full of pioneers – those who ignored the ‘‘established wisdom’’and made amazing discoveries, like our own Marshall and Warren, who discovered the real cause of stomach ulcers. And no, it’s not stress.

But these stories overlook some pretty obvious roadblocks in the quest for the truth.

First of all, scientists need to jump some (very important and very necessary) hurdles.

To do any research involving people or animals, scientists will need to pitch their idea to an ethics committee. This panel of academics, practitioners, lawyers, religious leaders and ordinary people basically makes sure research does more good than harm.

Funding bodies like the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council want to make sure any projects they give money to meet Australia’s priorities like cybersecurity, health and food.

Once scientists have cleared these hurdles, it’s time for peer review. This is where other experts judge whether the study is any good. Plenty of ideas that seem great fall down at this stage, because the study design is flawed, or numbers don’t add up.

But these are just the hurdles we know about and expect. There are lots of things scientists can’t research for all kinds of messier and hard-to-explain reasons.

A study might be really important, and ethical and well designed, but causes problems for other scientists, the government or industry.

When this happens, scientists can be attacked and told to stop what they’re doing. They might be told they are causing problems or publishing things that will make people uncomfortable.

So while we like to think all that matters is the truth, lots of other things can get in the way, whether it’s money, politics, reputations or identity.

Luckily there’s such a thing as academic freedom, which tries to make sure scientists can ask the right questions.

Response: Dr Jacqui Hoepner, the Australian National University.

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