"Right," he says. "Then they can maybe at least show some success." If you have a big enough data set, you're bound to see at least some of what you want to see.

Malcolm puts one of his hands up. "I guess my next question is why do the powers that be here care if we make any growth or not? Are they omnipotent beings that care about... morality? Ethics?"

Somehow this has become a philosophical discussion. At least scientific knowledge can be used for change. Elenore might be helping herself without even realizing it.