1 & 3: yes. 2: I'm wondering if when they talked about a panic in science, they meant a panic in not-science, like maybe pop science news or religion?

Right now there are a number of pop science news articles and channels saying physicists are panicking over Webb's confirmation of Hubble's observations of Cepheid variable stars and the expansion of the universe. But I haven't heard any actual physicists panicking, unless panicking means finding it really interesting and wanting to know more and do more observations and research.

Or maybe they meant there was a panic reaction to science news among religious politicians and public figures who were given a huge platform? They are always looking for ways to think of humans as distinctly more special than other animals. And they're always looking for ways to deny rights to anyone who isn't cis or straight.