Earlier this month, Brazil's National Museum—the oldest, largest, and arguably the most important historical and scientific museum in Latin America—was consumed by fire, stoked by a neglected and degraded infrastructure. It has been a tragic reminder to Brazil and to the rest of the world of how important it is for societies to support the institutions and endeavors that preserve and promote science and culture. This devastating event should serve as a harsh wake-up call for Brazil to bolster, rather than neglect, its scientific enterprise. The general elections next month are an opportunity for Brazil to prioritize science.