Most people always had poor memories, George Orwell make that observation. It's unfortunately one of the human conditions.

For most people differences among different groups stop at the brain ;)

I wish I could tell that you were right. But you are wrong. This tell me more about how much you have spent time on a even a simple subject like food if you lived in USA. How can I even have a more nuanced conversation on a complicated subject?

My guess regarding most people that I know, is that a typical 'climate-denier' ( the ones I know) generally have investigated more that his 'climate-acceptor' counterpart who seems to have unequivocally accepted the official position.

Note I'm not saying that that the 'climate-denier' is right, I'm saying that he has made more efforts to understand the information available to him. Who is to say who brought into the 'propaganda'?

No you cannot, unless you are willing to spend a few years on it. I can tell right away that have not explored any subject in depth.

(I'll give some credence to astronauts, pilot, astronomers etc. who have relatively direct evidence that someone like me with a desk bound job)

How about the other way around?

My point being, for a subject like this, either you or your friend cannot verify the 'science' except take someone's word.

As far I know, I don't don't think mainstream medicine is close to solving _any_ chronic condition, except managing it.

I would tell you to cut that shit out, if you dealt with me in person. I really would.

So, if everyone had 2 phds ( assuming phds are the pinnacle of educational heights) almost no one (or very few) would be left behind?

This really is an easy ( but not popular) answer. It's collective stupidity or more formally low IQ.

A quote come to mind: “If at age 20 you are not a Communist then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are not a Capitalist then you have no brains.”

I think adult 'socialists' ( as opposed to capitalists ) are in that league.

A quote come to mind: “If at age 20 you are not a Communist then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are not a Capitalist then you have no brains.”

No, I didn't disagree with the scientific process per-se. But don't put too much faith in it either if there are things at stake for you. You have to personally investigate a subject if needed if the stakes are high enough. Medicine is one area I can think off. Don't always conclude that it is a generally upward trajectory of better understanding either. People often replace one set of superstition with another.

In the end it really depends on your personal background and experience. If you have never taken on the establishment or if you never observed an anomaly with established expert/scientific opinion you won't know the rot.

'Reality' isn't something that different people can easily agree on. Most people including professional scientist have little or no inclination to investigate their beliefs.