Are Groundbreaking Science Discoveries Becoming Harder to Find?
Researchers are arguing over whether 'disruptive' or 'novel' science is waning - and how to remedy the problem.
Fang Zhouzi Erased from China's Social Media
Fang Zhouzi Erased from China's Social Media
Fang Zhouzi is a Chinese popular scientific writer who is also well known for his campaign against pseudoscience and fraud in China. But a few days ago, Fang Zhouzi has been erased.
On the productivity of scientists
Ever since Reagan and Thatcher made neoliberal ideas palatable to an unsuspecting public, concepts such as “New Public Management” or the more general notion that competition between in…
The Marches for Science, on One Global Interactive Map
22 April demonstrations planned for more than 100 cities around the world
Who Gets Credit? Survey Digs Into the Thorny Question of Authorship
Most researchers agree that drafting papers and interpreting results deserve recognition — but opinions don’t always match authorship guidelines.
Venus Might Host Life, New Discovery Suggests
The unexpected atmospheric detection of phosphine, a smelly gas made by microbes on Earth, could spark a revolution in astrobiology.
Potentially Long-Lasting Effects of the Pandemic on Scientists
The pandemic has caused disruption to many aspects of scientific research. In this Comment the authors describe the findings from surveys of scientists between April 2020 and January 2021, which suggests there was a decline in new projects started in that time.
What Has Happened to College Teacher Pay in England?
In the last few months, there has been a series of strikes by teachers in further education colleges across England over pay and conditions, and more strikes look set to impact the post-16 education sector this year. This report examines how pay and retention levels among college teachers in England have changed over time and compared with school teachers.
Leaked EU Competitiveness Plan Prompts Concerns over ERC Independence
Leaked EU Competitiveness Plan Prompts Concerns over ERC Independence
A leaked EU competitiveness strategy is prompting fears that Brussels intends to undermine the independence of the European Research Council by pushing for more alignment with the European Innovation Council and the EU's broader political goals.
Popular Open-science Platform to Stop Hosting Data and Code Amid Funding Concerns
Popular Open-science Platform to Stop Hosting Data and Code Amid Funding Concerns
Changes to the Open Science Framework’s policies will come into effect in November, forcing researchers to reconsider their workflows.
Musings about the Open Science Prize
As I was thinking about casting my vote for the Open Science Prize, I realized that I would in fact need a rubric for choosing. I was concerned that the public vote would tend towards popularity, familiarity, or bling, rather than the quality of the open science. But what does it mean to be “quality open science?” What should be the most important criteria?
The Right to Read is the Right To Mine: But Not When Blocked by Technical Protection Measures
The Right to Read is the Right To Mine: But Not When Blocked by Technical Protection Measures
The Association of European Research Libraries is working with Libraries Archives Copyright Alliance (LACA) to gather evidence about what happens when Technical Protection Measures (TPMs) block researchers from accessing content because they have attempted text and data mining.
Open Knowledge Foundation Seeks Visionary Leader to Steer the World Towards a Free, Fair, and Open Society
Open Knowledge Foundation Seeks Visionary Leader to Steer the World Towards a Free, Fair, and Open Society
The process of recruiting a new CEO will commence over the next few weeks. An open future has never been more important – will you join us to create it?
Climate Crisis: Scientists Spot Warning Signs of Gulf Stream Collapse
A shutdown would have devastating global impacts and must not be allowed to happen, researchers say.
Is It Really Bad That Only 50% of Social Science Papers Are Reproducible?
Is It Really Bad That Only 50% of Social Science Papers Are Reproducible?
Three new papers in Nature from the SCORE project find that around half of social science studies hold up under replication, reproducibility, and robustness tests. Many commentators have read this as failure. Might there be a more optimistic reading, and one that points to where social science needs to go next?
Peer evaluation of science
This is a proposal for a system for evaluation of the quality of scientific papers by open review of the papers through a platform inspired by StackExchange.
Science Disrupt London Sessions
Science is going through a revolution. The world of tech, startups, makers, innovators and collaborators are beginning to be welcomed in to the scientific ecosystem in a way never seen before. Science: Disrupt brings together the innovators, iconoclasts and entrepreneurs intent on creating change in science. Join us at Digital Science for our 4th Science Disrupt London Session to Disrupt the Lab!
SpringerNature Hurries 7 Billion Euro Frankfurt Listing
SpringerNature, the publisher of science magazine Nature, has brought forward a listing which may value it at more than 7 billion euros ($8.6 billion) including debt, to reduce the risk from volatile stock markets.
AmeliCA Celebrates Invest in Open Infrastructure Birth
Open Knowledge for Latin America and the Global south (AmeliCA) is pleased to be part of this initiative that furthers an open, scalable, long-lasting scientific infrastructure that seeks to spread its benefits worldwide.
Covid Prompted New Ways to Publish Research - It's Time to Embrace Them
Covid Prompted New Ways to Publish Research - It's Time to Embrace Them
The pandemic showed the benefits of a system based around reviewing preprints. Why was eLife the only journal to respond, asks Damian Pattinson.
Replication Studies
Replication Studies
Researchers with a PhD who are employed by a Dutch research institution can request funding for the replication of 'cornerstone research'.
The Perils of Public Outreach
A culture that normalizes hypercritical peers is a problem for scientists who want to reach beyond academe.
A Disciplined Approach to Disciplines
If you were to guess what proportion of the ESRC portfolio reflected thinking from, or somehow related to, more than one discipline, what figure would you come up with?
Science and Its Significant Other: Representing the Humanities in Bibliometric Scholarship
Science and Its Significant Other: Representing the Humanities in Bibliometric Scholarship
The article explores the conceptual frameworks, methods, and data sources used in bibliometrics to study the nature of the humanities, and its differences and similarities in comparison with other scientific domains.
Surge in Number of 'Extremely Productive' Authors Concerns Scientists
Some researchers publish a new paper every five days, on average. Data trackers suspect not all their manuscripts were produced through honest labour.
The Many Fallacies Used to Defend Subscription Publishing
For all the wonderful things academic societies do, they tend to be incredibly conservative and have done very little to suggest that they can lead on publishing innovation.
Between Gift-Giving and Accumulation: Peer Review Economies in Psychology
Between Gift-Giving and Accumulation: Peer Review Economies in Psychology
Peer review is crucial for academic communities to ensure high-quality research. Drawing on 39 semi-structured interviews, the study investigates how reviewers for three publishing outlets in psychology experience the tension between community responsibility and various priorities of a more individual kind.
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