Unless the atheist actually tested these scientific facts him/herself to make sure they are indeed factual, I would think that there has to be some small amount of faith from the atheist to put all trust in another scientist's work.
Take for example when we as the consumers willingly consume drugs that the pharmaceutical companies put out. We are putting our trust into their hands. We claim that everything they do is based on scientific study which produces factual results. But we ourselves, don't really know just how much of their work is legit until months later when the side effects aren't so rosy. The only factual thing about their research is that it yielded some negative effects. Maybe even too dangerous for human consumption.
Take for example when we as the consumers willingly consume drugs that the pharmaceutical companies put out. We are putting our trust into their hands. We claim that everything they do is based on scientific study which produces factual results. But we ourselves, don't really know just how much of their work is legit until months later when the side effects aren't so rosy. The only factual thing about their research is that it yielded some negative effects. Maybe even too dangerous for human consumption.
