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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.
Women in science: equality is impossible unless society shifts
Women have come a long way in science, but plenty of work remains. After all, gender bias in science doesn't happen in a vacuum.
Beyond today's crowdsourced science to tomorrow's citizen science cyborgs
Computers are getting better and better at the jobs that previously made sense for researchers to outsource to citizen scientists. But don't worry: there's still a role for people in these projects.
Academics admit feeling pressure to embellish possible impact of research
In the race to apply for research funding, writing statements about future impact can feel like a charade.
Gone is the solitary genius – science today is a group effort
Where once scientists used to be solitary creatures, today science is a highly collaborative affair, and the latest research in ecology is no exception.
Let's make sure it's fair as well as transparent
Scientific publishing has undergone a revolution in recent years - largely due to the internet. And it shows no sign of letting up as a growing number of countries attempt to ensure that research papers are made freely available. Publishers are struggling to adapt their business models to the new challenges.
Is the 2015 Nobel Prize a turning point for traditional Chinese medicine?
The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has gone to a researcher who spent her entire career researching traditional Chinese medicine...
Homo naledi fossil discovery a triumph for open access and education
The lead paper describing Homo naledi has been viewed more than 170,000 times in one week.
Publish or perish culture encourages scientists to cut corners
We need to ensure the reward and support structures in academia promote the best practices rather than corner cutting.
Let's face it: gender bias in academia is for real
Contrary to what some think, the battle against sexism in STEM has not been won, let alone reversed in favor of women.
How to value research that crosses more than one discipline
Many academics have internalised the pressure to police disciplinary boundaries, and keep their heads down and in their faculties.
Half of biomedical research studies don't stand up to scrutiny and what we need to do about that
Half of biomedical research studies don't stand up to scrutiny and what we need to do about that
What if I told you that half of the studies published in scientific journals today - the ones upon which news coverage of medical advances is often based - won't hold up under scrutiny?
Not a valid requirement for advancing in science
Working longer hours leads to poorer productivity. If you’re trying to impress people and move up the ranks, the solution isn’t to work longer, but to work smarter.
Retraction of scientific papers for fraud or bias is just the tip of the iceberg
Investigating fraud is hard work, and it is easier for journal editors to ignore the problem and perpetuate the myth that peer review of trial reports ensures their scientific quality.
Long lists are eroding the value of being a scientific author
Enough with the long author lists - we are running out of space.
How we can break free from sexism in science
In academia, strong hierarchies and nepotism compound problems associated with biases.