'Null' Research Findings Aren't Empty of Meaning. Let's Publish Them
Science could benefit from more reporting of null findings, even if the reports were briefer and had less detail than would be needed for peer review.
Send us a link
Peer Review Is a Black Box. Let's Open It Up
A new paper argues that journal publishers should become much more transparent about their peer review practices.
New Science Data-Sharing Rules Are Two Scoops of Disappointment
The rules fail to make data sharing mandatory for papers to be published, which raises the prospect that some authors might decide to ignore the hint.
For Sharing A Scientific Paper, a Young Researcher Faces Jail Time
The case of Colombian scientist Diego Gomez — on trial for copyright violation for sharing a research paper — is likely to reach a head later this month.
Phony Peer Review
An unknown number of published studies have a hidden flaw: The “peers” who supposedly vouched for their publication are phonies.
Broad Institute Tests the Limits of 'Nonprofit'
The Broad Institute draws NIH funding to subsidize dozens of basic research projects, many of them conducted with commercial partners. But it is the Broad’s handling of its own CRISPR business and partnerships that threaten to undermine its nonprofit mission.
Scientists Are Getting Proactive About Self-Corrections
The process for correcting a published article can be needlessly burdensome. So some researchers have decided to take matters into their own hands.
A Laboratory CEO on Science Funding, Open Access Publishing, and the Future of Genetics
As Blockbuster Drugs Fizzle, Biotech Looks Warily to the Next Big Thing
Several pricey drugs projected as best-sellers have flopped, unnerving the industry. Is the era of the biotech blockbuster over?
Science Sting Exposes How Corrupt Some Journal Publishers Are
In the latest ploy, a group of researchers in Poland tried to seat a fictional scholar onto the editorial boards of 360 academic publications.
Science Covered in the News Is More Likely to Be Overturned
It often feels as though today’s health headlines are some scientific version of Mad Libs. And now there’s a study that provides evidence for that hunch.
In Age of Alternative Facts, a College Course on Calling out Scientific Crap
Tired of alternative facts, two Seattle professors aim to strike a blow for science. Their weapon? A new course: “Calling Bullshit In the Age of Big Data.”
Scientists, Fishing for Significance, Get a Meager Catch
A growing chorus of experts says that scientific research is using too wide a net — and therefore publishing results that turn out to be false.
This Billionaire's Cancer Moonshot Is Falling Far Short of the Hype
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a biotech billionaire, launched a 'moonshot' to vanquish cancer. But an investigation found the hype far outruns the progress.
A Lot of Americans Don't Know a Single Scientist. We Need to Fix That
This is one of our biggest failures as a scientific community — we haven’t done a good job of actually communicating with people about what we do.
NIH Director Francis Collins To Stay On, At Least For Now
Dr. Francis Collins, the director of NIH, "has been held over by the Trump administration," although it's unclear whether Trump may nominate a successor.
Scientific 'Cartels' Band Together to Cite Each Others' Work
A small number of scientists band together to reference each other’s work, gaming the citation system to make their studies appear to be more important.
Fake News Invades Science and Science Journalism as well as Politics
Fake news and "post-truth," which may have played a role in the 2016 elections, are also problems in science publishing and science journalism.
Newt Gingrich: Trump Administration Will Be Committed to Science
Gingrich, the former House speaker and adviser to the president-elect, said "this is going to be a very science- and technology-oriented administration."
This Young Scientist Retracted a Paper. And It Didn't Hurt His Career
Despite the typical stigma of retracting a scientific paper, Nathan Georgette is doing just fine — serving as a model to those many decades his senior.
Let's Speed Up Science by Embracing Open Access Publishing
Open access publishing that permits commercial reuse enables the kinds of public-private partnerships that are essential to scientific innovation.
×