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New Technique Reveals Centuries of Secrets in Locked Letters
M.I.T. researchers have devised a virtual-reality technique that lets them read old letters that were mailed not in envelopes but in the writing paper itself after being folded into elaborate enclosures.
Why Virus Variants Have Such Weird Names
B.1.351 may sound sweet to a molecular epidemiologist, but what's the alternative, other than stigmatizing geographical names?
The $450 Question: Should Journals Pay Peer Reviewers?
Payment advocates expect quicker, better reviews but opponents fear unsustainable costs.
New UK Science Body Could Be Used As 'cover for Cronyism'
Advanced Research & Innovation Agency will be exempt from existing procurement rules for 'maximum flexibility', says government
Eating Meat 'raises Risk of Heart Disease, Diabetes and Pneumonia'
UK researchers find link between regular meat intake and nine non-cancerous illnesses.
Major Physics Society Won't Meet in Cities with Racist Policing Record
The American Physical Society's new criteria for conference venues seem to be unique among scientific societies.
ELife and Stencila Announce Roadmap for Bringing Reproducible Publishing to More Authors
ELife and Stencila Announce Roadmap for Bringing Reproducible Publishing to More Authors
The next phase of the Executable Research Article project will focus on reducing barriers to the authoring and publication of reproducible research papers.
First Vaccine to Fully Immunize Against Malaria Builds on Pandemic-driven RNA Tech
Making a vaccine for malaria is challenging because its associated parasite blocks the generation of the memory T-cells that make traditional vaccines effective. But scientists recently tried a new approach using an RNA-based platform.
It's Not Just Oceans: Scientists Find Plastic is Also Polluting the Air
New research links Delhi's thick smogs to burning of plastics
Atlantic Ocean Circulation at Weakest in a Millennium, Say Scientists
Decline in system underpinning Gulf Stream could lead to more extreme weather in Europe and higher sea levels on US east coast
Electricity Needed to Mine Bitcoin is More Than Used by 'Entire Countries'
Bitcoin mining - the process in which a bitcoin is awarded to a computer that solves a complex series of algorithm - is a deeply energy intensive process
Dutch Research Funding Agency, Paralyzed by Ransomware Attack, Refuses to Pay Up
Dutch Research Funding Agency, Paralyzed by Ransomware Attack, Refuses to Pay Up
Hackers seeking to extort Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research release confidential documents.
The Coronavirus Is Plotting a Comeback. Here's Our Chance to Stop It for Good.
The Coronavirus Is Plotting a Comeback. Here's Our Chance to Stop It for Good.
Many scientists are expecting another rise in infections. But this time the surge will be blunted by vaccines and, hopefully, widespread caution. By summer, Americans may be looking at a return to normal life.
How Europe's €100-billion Science Fund Will Shape 7 Years of Research
As Horizon Europe issues its first call for grants, Nature reviews some big changes - from open science to goal-oriented "missions".
Investigating the Association Between Publication Performance and the Work Environment of University Research Academics
Investigating the Association Between Publication Performance and the Work Environment of University Research Academics
This review highlights where academics’ performance needs support and how the work environment can be improved to bolster publication productivity.
Quantitative Quality: a Study on How Performance-based Measures May Change the Publication Patterns of Danish Researchers
Quantitative Quality: a Study on How Performance-based Measures May Change the Publication Patterns of Danish Researchers
Nations the world over are increasingly turning to quantitative performance-based metrics to evaluate the quality of research outputs, as these metrics are abundant and provide an easy measure of ranking research. In 2010, the Danish Ministry of Science and Higher Education followed this trend and began portioning out a percentage of the available research funding according to how many research outputs each Danish university produces. Not all research outputs are eligible: only those published in a curated list of academic journals and publishers, the so-called BFI list, are included. The BFI list is ranked, which may create incentives for academic authors to target certain publication outlets or publication types over others. In this study we examine the potential effect these relatively new research evaluation methods have had on the publication patterns of researchers in Denmark. The study finds that publication behaviors in the Natural Sciences & Technology, Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) have changed, while the Health Sciences appear unaffected. Researchers in Natural Sciences & Technology appear to focus on high impact journals that reap more BFI points. While researchers in SSH have also increased their focus on the impact of the publication outlet, they also appear to have altered their preferred publication types, publishing more journal articles in the Social Sciences and more anthologies in the Humanities.
Open Access Surpasses Subscription Publication Globally for the First Time
While we have seen the percentage of OA increasing rapidly in recent years, especially in countries like China, Germany and the UK, it was not until 2020 that more outputs were published through Open Access channels than traditional subscription channels globally.
The Scientist Who's Been Right About Covid-19 Vaccines Predicts What's Next
Hilda Bastian on the most important pandemic vaccine in the pipeline and why we're on track for annual booster shots.
What Darwin's 'Descent of Man' Got Wrong on Sex and Race - and Why It Matters
The authors of a book marking the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's "Descent of Man" discuss "a most interesting problem" - namely how the naturalist's fundamental misconceptions on sex and race still shape society.
The Future of Scholarly Communication - Workshop 24–26 February 2021
The Future of Scholarly Communication - Workshop 24–26 February 2021
OPERAS-P, an H2020 project coordinated by CNRS, is organising a workshop Future of scholarly communication, which will be dedicated to discussing the outcomes of the research undertaken in the project's Work Package 6 (Innovation).
Science Journalism Master Class Now Available
The first of "The Open Notebooks" Science Journalism Master Classes, "How to Find an Angle for Any Science Story," launches. The free, hands-on classes are designed to help science writers at all levels of experience sharpen their skills.
Israel, Switzerland and UK to Join Horizon Europe by End of Year
The UK's association to Horizon Europe has been agreed "in principle" and awaits Parliament's scrutiny, while agreements with Israel and Switzerland could be finalised by the end of the year.
Perseverance's Eyes See a Different Mars
The Red Planet's red looks different to an Earthling than it would to a Martian-or to a robot with hyperspectral cameras for eyes.
Early-Career Advisory Group: Applications Open for Candidates to Join in 2021
Early-Career Advisory Group: Applications Open for Candidates to Join in 2021
The Early-Career Advisory Group is looking for five early-career researchers to join our advisory group and help us realise our mission to transform research communication.
The Reporting of Race and Ethnicity in Medical and Science Journals
The Reporting of Race and Ethnicity in Medical and Science Journals
For many years and increasingly in the last year, the JAMA Network journals have published many important articles addressing disparities and racism in medical education, research, and health care and highlighting initiatives to help address deep-rooted inequities.
Race on Campus: Why Faculty Diversity Remains Largely a Zero-Sum Game
Race on Campus: Why Faculty Diversity Remains Largely a Zero-Sum Game
Without more people of color pursuing doctoral degrees, the talent pool will stay predominantly white.