In my experience - and, perhaps, I can o-only speak for Terran scientists - it is not so much "believing" as it is "coming to a conclusion that supports the evidence". One... d-does not establish a hypothesis before one looks at the evidence.

... This is why Terrans do not think magic and the like exists - because so far, there is absolutely no evidence for it...

... But that would change things, if magic - or other p-paranormal phenomena - could be replicated in laboratory conditions...

[Which is exactly what Helios could do. Robert is convinced of this. He is also convinced that Helios - and other magicians in his world - could singlehandedly revolutionize physics if they did such a demonstration...

... It's a pity that they're so afraid to.]