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How Sure Are You of Your Result? Put a Number on It
How Sure Are You of Your Result? Put a Number on It
Any scientist publishing a claim should quantify their confidence in it with a probability, argues Steven N. Goodman.
China Backs Bold Plan to Tear Down Journal Paywalls
Officials pledge support for European-led 'Plan S' to tear down journal paywalls - but it's unclear whether China will adopt its policies.
Researchers Sign Petition Backing Plans to End Paywalls
More than 1,400 researchers sign an online letter arguing that Plan S will not impinge on academic freedom, as some critics claim.
Statistical Pitfalls of Personalized Medicine
Misleading terminology and arbitrary divisions stymie drug trials and can give false hope about the potential of tailoring drugs to individuals, warns Stephen Senn.
Does Science Have a Bullying Problem?
A spate of bullying allegations have rocked several high-profile science institutions. Here's how researchers, universities, funders and others are dealing with the issue.
Beware the Rise of the Radical Right
Academic freedom is on the hit list when radical politicians gain office - as they have done in Europe.
Repatriation of African Artefacts from French Museums Will Require Huge Research Effort
Repatriation of African Artefacts from French Museums Will Require Huge Research Effort
Graduate students from Africa could benefit from such efforts, but it is not clear who will pay for them.
First Sun-dimming Experiment Will Test a Way to Cool Earth
Researchers plan to spray sunlight-reflecting particles into the stratosphere, an approach that could ultimately be used to quickly lower the planet's temperature.
A 100th Birthday Wish: Uphold Academic Freedom in Dark Times
The Haldane principle, born a century ago, has enabled government scientists to speak truth to power without fear of retribution.
AI Peer Reviewers Unleashed to Ease Publishing Grind
Automated tools could speed up and improve the review process, but humans are still in the driving seat. Most researchers have good reason to grumble about peer review: it is time-consuming and error-prone, and the workload is unevenly spread, with just 20% of scientists taking on most reviews. Now peer review by artificial intelligence (AI) is promising to improve the process, boost the quality of published papers — and save reviewers time.
Stop Exploitation of Foreign Postdocs in the United States
A survey reveals some lab heads are using the need for visas to create unacceptable conditions for junior researchers.
A Data Citation Roadmap for Scientific Publishers
A practical roadmap for scholarly publishers to implement data citation in accordance with the Joint Declaration of Data Citation Principles (JDDCP).
Why Diversity Helps to Produce Stronger Research
Teams should comprise all gender identities to spark the most innovative endeavours, say researchers.
Open is Not Enough
The solutions adopted by the high-energy physics community to foster reproducible research are examples of best practices that could be embraced more widely. This first experience suggests that reproducibility requires going beyond openness.
Scientists Struggle with Confusing Journal Guidelines
Unclear and incomplete journal guidelines are placing an additional burden on many scientists who don't speak English as a first language.
Open Data Are a Boon for Underfunded Researchers
Open-access data from repositories around the world have enabled a clinical researcher working in Jordan to make a bigger contribution to science.
Twenty Things I Wish I'd Known when I Started My PhD
Recent PhD graduate Lucy A. Taylor shares the advice she and her colleagues wish they had received.
The Quest for More Value - Challenges of the Scientific Ecosystem in the Absence of Coordination: A Long Read
The Quest for More Value - Challenges of the Scientific Ecosystem in the Absence of Coordination: A Long Read
How can research produce more value in the absence of coordination? An opinion piece by Daniel Ropers, Chief Executive Officer of Springer Nature.
Wellcome and Gates Join Bold European Open-access Plan
The Wellcome Trust has also announced how it will implement the plan, which could provide a blueprint for others.