The Maverick Scientist by Forrest Mims III – Watts Up With That?

A Tribute to Independent Science and the Power of Curiosity

Forrest M. Mims III is a name that should be familiar to anyone who values empirical science, skepticism of institutional gatekeeping, and the power of independent research. He’s also a regular commenter here on WUWT, having become a fan of what we do.

I first got introduced to him via some of his books that were carried at Radio Shack stores such as the Engineer’s Mini Notebook and Getting Started in Electronics. I still have both.

His latest book, The Maverick Scientist, (available on Amazon) is both an autobiographical account and a testament to the value of observational science—something increasingly overlooked in today’s world of model-driven speculation and institutional orthodoxy.

Mims is best known for his work in electronics and atmospheric science, despite lacking formal academic credentials. His contributions to Scientific American, particularly his Amateur Scientist columns (back when the magazine was actually about science), and his pioneering role in developing scientific instruments make him a fascinating figure in the history of independent research. But perhaps most notably, he was infamously denied a position at Scientific American due to his religious beliefs—a stark example of the biases that pervade supposedly “objective” scientific institutions. This book delves into that episode and many others, making a strong case for why science should be open to all, not just those with the right credentials or ideological conformity.

A Life of Scientific Inquiry

Mims recounts his lifelong passion for experimentation, from early childhood tinkering to groundbreaking research in atmospheric science. His journey includes designing altimeters for model rockets, inventing devices that have been used by NASA, and—perhaps most relevant to today’s discussions on climate—his work measuring atmospheric aerosols and ozone using simple yet effective optical instruments.

His research, particularly on atmospheric turbidity and the effects of volcanic eruptions on solar radiation, underscores an important lesson: much of climate science depends on direct, real-world observations, not just theoretical models. Mims demonstrates that critical atmospheric data can be gathered with relatively inexpensive tools, a point that undermines the mainstream insistence that only large-scale, government-funded research projects are legitimate.

In my opinion, the best part of the book is the section on atmospheric optics and his design of the LED Photometer

One of the most fascinating sections of The Maverick Scientist is Mims’ groundbreaking work with LED photometers, which he used to measure atmospheric aerosols, water vapor, and ozone. Unlike conventional scientific instruments costing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, Mims developed a highly effective and affordable alternative using simple light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The core principle behind his LED photometer is remarkably simple yet ingenious. LEDs, when used in reverse, can act as narrow-band light detectors. Each LED is sensitive to a specific range of wavelengths, making it possible to measure atmospheric components like aerosols and ozone by analyzing how much sunlight is absorbed or scattered at different wavelengths. By calibrating these devices and comparing them to more expensive commercial instruments, Mims demonstrated that his low-cost method was highly accurate, but even more important, easy enough for almost anyone to build and use.

His experiments, conducted over decades, yielded valuable insights into atmospheric transparency, solar dimming, and aerosol concentrations. One of his most notable findings involved tracking the effects of volcanic eruptions—such as those of Mount Pinatubo in 1991—on atmospheric clarity. He documented how aerosols injected into the stratosphere caused significant reductions in solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, a well-known but often underappreciated natural factor affecting climate variability.

Mims’ photometer also allowed him to measure changes in atmospheric water vapor, an often-overlooked but critical factor in climate science. Unlike carbon dioxide, water vapor is the most significant greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere, yet its variability and role in cloud formation remain poorly understood by climate models. Mims’ work provides a valuable empirical dataset that challenges some of the overconfident assumptions in climate modeling, particularly regarding feedback mechanisms.

He writes on his Facebook page:

35 YEARS OF MEASURING THE SKY

On 5 February 1990, I began using homemade instruments to make near daily measurements of the ozone layer, total water vapor, and the optical depth of the sky caused by dust, smoke, and air pollution. The latter two measurements were made with the first LED sun photometer, which works as well today as it did 35 years ago.

You can see all of its 35 years of data nearby. Note the two encircled regions showing the effects of the historic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 and the even more historic underwater eruption of Hunga Tonga in 2022.

The first 30 years of data along with multiple graphs were described in “A 30-Year Climatology (1990–2020) of Aerosol Optical Depth and Total Column Water Vapor and Ozone over Texas” published by Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Notice the slight downward trend in the graph. He writes in the abstract of his paper (bold mine):

Reduced air pollution caused mean AOD (Atmospheric Optical Depth) to decline from 0.175 to 0.14. The AOD trend measured for 30 years by a light-emitting diode (LED) sun photometer, the first of its kind, parallels the trend from 20 years of measurements by a modified Microtops II. While TPW (Total Preciptable Water) responded to El Niño–Southern Oscillation conditions, TPW exhibited no trend over the 30 years.

That lack of a trend in TPW blows a hole in the idea that climate change is causing a positive water vapor feedback effect. So much for climate models.

What makes this research so significant is not just the scientific insights, but the broader implication: high-quality atmospheric data can be gathered without the need for multimillion-dollar government grants or institutional approval. This democratization of scientific tools is something the establishment rarely acknowledges because it undermines the monopoly they have over climate data and interpretation.

One of the book’s most compelling themes is the tension between independent scientists and the scientific establishment. Mims doesn’t shy away from discussing how institutional science often dismisses contributions from “outsiders,” even when their data and methods are sound. His own exclusion from Scientific American is a prime example, but the broader implication is clear: scientific consensus is often shaped by social and political pressures rather than pure empirical evidence.

This is a theme I’ve observed time and again in climate science. Researchers who challenge the prevailing narrative—whether on temperature reconstructions, climate sensitivity, or the role of natural variability—are frequently belittled and sidelined, not because their data is flawed, but because their conclusions don’t align with the orthodoxy. Mims’ story reinforces the need for a truly open scientific discourse, where ideas are tested on merit rather than suppressed for ideological reasons.

Mims’ work in atmospheric optics is particularly relevant in an era where climate science is increasingly dominated by models rather than real-world measurements. His efforts in developing sun photometers and tracking atmospheric aerosol content highlight a crucial point: empirical observations remain the foundation of good science.

For instance, Mims’ studies of post-volcanic atmospheric effects provided key insights into how natural events influence climate. This is a vital counterpoint to alarmist claims that all observed climate changes are anthropogenic in origin. If a single volcanic eruption can significantly alter atmospheric conditions for years, what does that say about the climate models that often fail to account for such variability?

The Maverick Scientist is an inspiring read for anyone who believes in the power of independent inquiry. It’s particularly relevant for those of us who question the prevailing narratives in climate science and other politically charged scientific fields. Mims embodies the spirit of open, empirical research—something that has been increasingly sidelined in favor of institutional control and politically convenient conclusions.

His book is also a reminder that science is not the exclusive domain of PhDs working at government-funded institutions. Some of the most important discoveries have come from those outside the establishment—Galileo, Tesla, and now, in the modern era, independent researchers like Mims. His story is a call to action for amateur scientists, skeptics, and anyone willing to challenge dogma with data.

Final Thoughts

Mims’ The Maverick Scientist is a refreshing and necessary book at a time when scientific debate is too often stifled by institutional gatekeepers. It highlights the value of observational science, the dangers of ideological conformity, and the enduring power of curiosity-driven research.

The story of his LED photometer alone is worth the read—it’s a prime example of how simple, cost-effective scientific tools can provide critical data that challenges prevailing assumptions in climate science. That kind of empirical work, not speculative modeling, is what science should be built upon.

For those who believe that science should be a field of open inquiry rather than a rigid orthodoxy, this book is a must-read. It’s a tribute to independent thought, a critique of scientific elitism, and a guidebook for anyone who wants to pursue real science—regardless of credentials.

Anthony’s Rating: 5 out of 5

Bonus review: his other book on his work at the Mauna Loa Observatory

For readers interested in atmospheric science, The Maverick Scientist pairs well with another of Mims’ books, Mauna Loa Observatory: Hawaii’s Global Laboratory. This work documents his time researching at the famed atmospheric monitoring station on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano, where key climate and atmospheric measurements—including the famous Keeling Curve tracking CO₂ concentrations—are recorded.

In Mauna Loa Observatory, Mims details how he used his LED photometers to monitor aerosol optical thickness, a crucial measure of atmospheric clarity that affects solar radiation reaching the surface. His findings at Mauna Loa reinforced his earlier discoveries about volcanic aerosols, confirming their significant influence on global temperature fluctuations. Importantly, his work also raised questions about inconsistencies in mainstream climate data collection, particularly regarding long-term atmospheric trends. By showing that affordable, independently built instruments could match or even outperform expensive government-funded systems, Mims once again highlighted the value of empirical science over institutionalized gatekeeping.

His experiences at Mauna Loa further illustrate one of the key themes in The Maverick Scientist: independent researchers can and do make important contributions to science, often in ways that challenge the prevailing consensus. His atmospheric observations serve as a reminder that natural variability, such as volcanic activity and solar radiation fluctuations, plays a major role in climate—something that many model-based climate projections tend to underestimate.

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