Your analogy is poor because the “3.6 Roentgen” was a story the politicians were telling each other; where the actual scientist knew they were measuring the limit of their equipment. Perhaps it’s uncharitable but I feel like I could restate your question as: “I know nothing about particle physics - is it possible the entire field is just cranks deluding themselves?”
Would not be the first time humans deluded themselves with big ideas the masses could not falsify.
It’s as likely as anything else given how common it is for even STEM educated humans to be religious and read into their tea leaves.
There is no center of the universe or higher power; why should a handful of physicists be unequivocally “correct”. Deference to their figurative identity is all the untrained can conjure. Doesn’t mean we need to shower them in praise and empower their agency at the expense of one’s own.
Even if the science is right they’re still just one of seven billion.
