Yes, worship is innate to us though peoples perspectives differ on what they perceive as powerful and most importantly in their cognition, what brings immediate satisfaction to their desires or motives. It is relative to what ones goal in life has become and hence forth all data gathering is serve that goal or worship it as well.
For instance, as muslims our ultimate goal is to transition though this biological existence in a way that pleases Allah SWT and hence forth our data gathering is focused on aspects which edge us closer to that goal.
For people with no belief in judgement or that this biological existence is transitionary, their disposition is to worship that which brings power to them, it may be money, influence, control of others, just dedicating themselves to natural cause or anything which finds some purpose in this world.
Christians for instance, who believe that their sins have been forgiven and purgatory is also temporary, find all the compelling reasons to service humanity rather than stake it for themselves. You’ll find a lot missionary work is concentrated in humantarian campaigns and institutions. They have convinced themselves about their eternal well-being and naturally with such patterns of thought ones efforts are focused on others and it is worship to them. Not to say that we as muslims should not be helping out humanity but with a different calling or intention.
For the one who does not believe in any form of retribution from God, his intuition is not inclined to gather data contrary to what he believes in. He will be a mercenary by nature. Depending on his experiences in life he may be bought for good or bad.
Scientists worship knowledge and talent. It leads to being atheistic or agnostic though if they do not realize that we have not been given all knowledge by Allah SWT. This is no way means that we should not seek knowledge as that would be contrary to the commandments of Islam.