> It's not an argument from authority if I trust a specialist in their field with issues in their field.

Yes, it kind of is an argument from authority to simply "trust" them. You chastised someone on not checking "what the methodology used was," then cited only the names of the groups who carried it out and said nothing about the methodology.

I trust Einstein and everyone else on the relativity theory. I trust Andrew Wiles and the dozen of people who understood his proof.

I trust my doctor.

You do too.

Of course, I was criticising the way they argue, a meta-argument, not the argument itself. I have no interest in discussing the methodology or result of this study.

They're criticizing the lack of commentary on the actual methodology. You can't defend a methodology from someone who doesn't not specify any mentioned weaknesses. It's sowing doubt with no basis, and that is worthy of criticism in itself.