1 academic makes something up based on his own sense of intellect
50 academics listening aren't smart enough to realize its nonsense
500 academics notice the 50 are onboard, assume its valid, given the newly forming consensus of academics.
In effect, Academics are too stupid to realize they're morons and because they're surrounded by other morons, nobody's smart enough to realize the person sitting next to them is a moron....which they have in common.