In "A Short History of Nearly Everything," Bill Bryson explores the development of scientific knowledge and the evolution of our understanding of the world. He discusses the often subjective nature of scientific discovery, highlighting how scientists' personal beliefs can influence their interpretations of new evidence. Bryson illustrates that many early interpretations tended to align with the existing views held by the discoverers, suggesting a bias in how findings were approached.

This observation is echoed by John Reader in his book "Missing Links," where he points out how frequently initial interpretations of new data reflect the biases of the discoverer. Bryson's narrative emphasizes the importance of questioning these biases in the scientific process, advocating for a more objective and open-minded approach to discovering truths about our universe.