Final answer:
Scientists often feared publishing their findings due to potential contempt from their peers, societal overwhelm towards rapid advancements, and suppression from authorities when findings contradicted prevailing beliefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many scientists were afraid to publish their findings because of the fear of contempt and rejection from their peers, as well as the broader society that often found rapid scientific advancement overwhelming and threatening.
This fear was exacerbated by instances where the prevailing authorities, whether religious institutions during the era of Copernicus or government entities in more recent times, suppressed or edited scientific findings that contradicted established beliefs or political ideologies.
In some cases, such as with the pseudo-science movements or controversial scientific claims, the mistrust or skepticism of the scientific community itself could discourage scientists from coming forward with their discoveries.