Universalism means that knowledge claims should be analyzed objectively and be verifiable or repeatable. Scientific truths should be observable or testable regardless of national, political, or religious boundaries. Science is a communist activity in that scientists share their work with their community for the common good. Merton wrote that "the substantive findings of science are a product of social collaboration and are assigned to the community...The scientist's claim to intellectual 'property' is limited to that of recognition and esteem.
Essentially, progress in science comes through cooperation and collaboration between individual scientists, and between generations of scientists. Scientists should have no emotional or financial attachments (i.e. "disinterestedness") to their work. Reward comes through recognition of scientific achievement, not through monetary gains (i.e. the institutional goal of science is recognition, not money).
Merton wrote that "the scientific investigator does not preserve the cleavage between the sacred and the profane, between that which requires uncritical respect and that which can be objectively analyzed". Scientists should wait until "all the facts are in" before a judgement is made about a particular theory. All matters are constantly up for debate. A scientific community thrives on organized skepticism. A scientist must play devils advocate with all working models.