In early 2024, scientists on Twitter decided to switch things up a bit: instead of posting about some mind-blowing discovery or their latest research accomplishments, they shared stories about their academic rejections—all the times they failed. Probably not what most people were expecting to see, but here’s the twist: this kind of honesty might actually be a genius move.

In a world where everyone from influencers to your next door neighbor is sharing their highs and lows online, scientists are jumping on the bandwagon too. This isn’t just about getting likes; it’s about changing how we see them and their work.

We asked 1,851 people to check out different types of posts from scientists. Some posts were all about their successes—”Look at my awesome new discovery!”—while others were more like, “Well, that experiment didn’t quite go where I wanted it to…” The goal? To see how these different posts affected what people thought about the scientists and how interested they became in those scientific topics.

Scientists who shared their failures were seen as more trustworthy, open, and kind-hearted than those who only talked about their accomplishments. This made people more likely to follow their work and support science in general.

People who thought the scientists were genuine and relatable were more likely to support science and seek out more information about it. Turns out, seeing that scientists mess up sometimes— just like us—makes them more human and their work more interesting.

By sharing their ups and downs, scientists can bust the myth that science is always a smooth ride to success. They show that it’s a bumpy journey full of trial and error, making the whole process more relatable. And in doing so, it can also inspire more people to get interested in science and even support scientific initiatives.