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We Need to Break Science out of Its Ivory Tower
We can overcome the tyranny of inaccessible science hardware by building a movement for equity in science.
How We Edit Science Part 2: Significance Testing, P-Hacking and Peer Review
This is the second part in a series on how we edit science, looking at hypothesis testing, the problem of p-hacking and how the peer review process works.
After 75 Years, Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics Need Updating
Today's robots and artificial intelligence look very different from the androids conceived by Isaac Asimov.
Academics Can Change the World – If They Stop Talking Only to Their Peers
Very few academics do a great deal to share their often important and relevant research with the general public. What's holding them back?
The Science 'Reproducibility Crisis' – and What Can Be Done About It
The Science 'Reproducibility Crisis' – and What Can Be Done About It
We asked three experts for their takes.
Robots and AI could soon have feelings, hopes and rights
We have long believed ourselves to be the only intelligent beings on Earth – that may soon change and the consequences will be dramatic for law, politics and society in general.
The Tragic Story of Soviet Genetics Shows the Folly of Political Meddling in Science
The Tragic Story of Soviet Genetics Shows the Folly of Political Meddling in Science
When politics meddles with science, it can lead to tragedy, as was the case with Stalin's favourite agricultural biologist Trofim Lysenko and his rival Nikolai Vavilov.
Why You Should Care About the Rise of Fake Journals and the Bad Science They Publish
Why You Should Care About the Rise of Fake Journals and the Bad Science They Publish
There are more academic publishers out there than ever before. In 2014 there was an estimated 28,100 active scientific journals, but while the large majority of these journals are highly respected, there has also been a sharp rise in the number of predatory journals.
Who Will Keep Predatory Science Journals at Bay Now that Jeffrey Beall's Blog Is Gone?
Who Will Keep Predatory Science Journals at Bay Now that Jeffrey Beall's Blog Is Gone?
A leading website that monitored predatory open access journals has closed. This will make it harder to keep tabs on this corrosive force within science.
Should Scientists Engage in Activism?
In the wake of the Flint water crisis and with a new notably anti-science president, U.S. scientists are reevaluating how to navigate the tension between speaking out and a fear of losing research funding.
How the Drone Went From the Latest Must Have Tech Toy to a Billion-Dollar Cultural Phenomenon
How the Drone Went From the Latest Must Have Tech Toy to a Billion-Dollar Cultural Phenomenon
Drone technology is quickly evolving from a geeky accessory to multi-billion dollar industry.
How to Quickly Spot Dodgy Science
There are a few red flags to look out for when reading about new scientific discoveries that can help you spot dodgy or unreliable work.
Why Researchers Should Get the Same Client Confidentiality As Doctors
Promises made by researchers to participants to elicit the truth may not be worth the paper their written on if the courts can bulldoze though them.
Peer Review Is in Crisis, But Should Be Fixed, Not Abolished
The traditional mode of publishing scientific research faces much criticism – primarily for being too slow and sometimes shoddily done. Maybe fewer publications of higher quality is the way forward.
One reason so many scientific studies may be wrong
P hacking is manipulating data and research methods to achieve statistical signifiance. And it could be why so many research papers are false.
From the sugar scam to Brexit, our faith in experts is fading
Science's quality control processes are under question. Scientists should think about changing the rules and extending their peer communities.
What's the point of maths research?
We don't know what knowledge we'll need in the future, and that's where maths research comes in.
Making drug development less secretive could lead to quicker, cheaper therapies
Making drug development less secretive could lead to quicker, cheaper therapies
With the right investment, an open source drug discovery system might compete with the traditional pharmaceutical industry to deliver the drugs we need.
Why academics are losing relevance in society – and how to stop it
Academics are getting out of touch with the rest of society. This helps explains the sorry state of our public discourse on science.
Should writing for the public count toward tenure?
The American Sociological Association is starting a conversation to include “public communication” -- work often largely ignored -- in the assessment of a scholar’s contributions. Why does it matter?
Fabricating science: discussing fraud can rebuild community confidence and deepen understanding of how science works
Fabricating science: discussing fraud can rebuild community confidence and deepen understanding of how science works
Openly discussing the history of science, where is has gone wrong, and the incredible efforts individual scientists go to uncover fraud should inspire confidence in its self-correcting nature.
We need to talk about the bad science being funded
New studies on the quality of published research shows we could be wasting billions of dollars a year on bad science, to the neglect of good science projects.