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Opinion: The Promise and Plight of Open Data
Open science serves to make the research process more transparent. But we are still waiting to realize the fruits of open-data policies at scientific journals.
Opinion: The Promise and Plight of Open Data
Opinion: The Promise and Plight of Open Data

Open science serves to make the research process more transparent. But we are still waiting to realize the fruits of open-data policies at scientific journals.

Open science serves to make the research process more transparent. But we are still waiting to realize the fruits of open-data policies at scientific journals.

science publishing

crossword puzzle
Ten Minute Sabbatical
Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon | Dec 1, 2022 | 2 min read
Take a break from the bench to puzzle and peruse
multiple sets of hands putting gears together on tabletop
Opinion: In Publishing, Don’t Make the Perfect the Enemy of the Good
Hilal A. Lashuel | Nov 10, 2022 | 5 min read
All members of the scientific community must commit to taking the risks needed to change how research is shared and evaluated.
illustration of a laptop with small people filling out an assessment
Q&A: Why eLife Is Doing Away with Rejections
Jef Akst | Oct 21, 2022 | 4 min read
The journal’s executive director speaks with The Scientist about what it hopes to accomplish with its unusual new publishing model.
Temple University flag flying in front of a university building
Journals Investigate Possible Misconduct in Heart Research
Catherine Offord | Sep 13, 2022 | 2 min read
Scientific publishers get involved in a scandal at Temple University that has so far produced one retraction for image manipulation, a university-led investigation, and a lawsuit by one of the researchers involved.
close up programmer student man hand typing on keyboard at computer desktop to input code language into software for study bug and defect of system in classroom , development of technology concept
How to Fix Science's Code Problem
Katarina Zimmer | Sep 12, 2022 | 10 min read
Despite increasingly strict journal policies requiring the release of computational code files along with research papers, many scientists remain reluctant to share—underscoring the need for better solutions.
White House on sunny day
No More Paywalls on Federally Funded Research: White House
Shawna Williams | Aug 25, 2022 | 2 min read
The Biden administration will by 2026 require that all publicly funded work be deposited in designated repositories immediately on publication.
Data protection illustration
Opinion: Is Open Access Worth the Cost?
Jingshan S. Du | Jun 1, 2022 | 6 min read
As we continue to transition out of the print era of scientific publishing, funders and institutions are paying a steep price to have trustworthy publishers certify research outcomes.
A gavel sits on top of a stack of clipboards and papers on an open laptop with the screen showing graphs
Munich Court Ruling Sides with Elsevier, ACS over ResearchGate
Jef Akst | Mar 7, 2022 | 2 min read
The academic networking service ResearchGate was infringing on copyrights held by scientific publishers when it hosted manuscripts from their journals, the European court said, but the website will not have to pay damages.
hundred dollar bills with stethoscope on top
Most Medical Papers Didn’t Disclose Industry Payments: Preprint
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Jan 24, 2022 | 2 min read
Authors of papers published in JAMA and NEJM received millions in undisclosed payments in 2017, an analysis finds.
Lab dishes containing blue liquid
Study Finds Reproducibility Issues in High-Impact Cancer Papers
Catherine Offord | Dec 7, 2021 | 7 min read
Researchers involved in an eight-year project to reproduce the findings of more than 50 high-impact papers struggled to get enough information to even carry out most of the experiments.
professor photo
Walter Gratzer, Biophysical Chemist and Science Writer, Dies at 89
Chloe Tenn | Nov 23, 2021 | 2 min read
His career bridged impactful research in molecular biology and biochemistry with prolific science writing for academic and nonacademic audiences alike.
Magazines and stethoscope
Q&A: Potential Partiality in Scientific Publishing
Chloe Tenn | Nov 23, 2021 | 4 min read
The Scientist interviewed clinical pharmacologist Clara Locher, coauthor of a new survey aimed at detecting editorial bias, regarding her team’s findings about biomedical publishing.
illustration of a laptop surrounded by data visualization plots
Opinion: In Defense of Preprints
Richard Sever and John Inglis | Nov 11, 2021 | 3 min read
In response to two November 2021 articles in The Scientist that called out preprints as a source of medical misinformation, the cofounders of bioRxiv and medRxiv say it’s not the publishing model that’s at fault.
Double exposure of woman hands working on computer and DNA hologram drawing
Brave New Publishing World
Bob Grant | Nov 1, 2021 | 4 min read
Preprints are likely here to stay. The press, the public, and the research community must adapt to this relatively recent model of scientific publishing if we are to extract its benefits while avoiding its pitfalls.
Illustration depicting peers reviewing a paper
Opinion: The Problem with Preprints
Michael Mullins | Nov 1, 2021 | 4 min read
Preprints can be valuable additions to the scientific literature. But we must start seeing them as perishable commodities rather than akin to peer-reviewed, published studies.
Anonymous person covering face with question mark
Revealing Peer Reviewer Identities Could Introduce Bias: Study
Chloe Tenn | Oct 27, 2021 | 2 min read
An analysis finds that reviewers are more likely to choose to be de-anonymized when their reviews are positive, suggesting instituting a fully open process might discourage negative feedback.
A conceptual illustration of computers, hands on mice, a virus
A Surge in Pandemic Research Shines a Spotlight on Preprints
Diana Kwon | Sep 10, 2021 | 5 min read
Many scientists have turned to preprints to rapidly disseminate their research on COVID-19, but some disagree with this approach.
Illustration of a person confused looking at a computer
When Researchers Sound the Alarm on Problematic Papers
Shawna Williams | Sep 1, 2021 | 10+ min read
Finding and reporting an irregularity in a published study can lead people down an unexpected path.
Illustration of cartoon headshots of people of diverse ethnicities
Survey Finds Lack of Diversity Among Journal Editors
Jef Akst | Jun 14, 2021 | 4 min read
Collecting data on the various races, sexual orientations, and gender identities of editors at 25 scientific and medical journals, researchers document the underrepresentation of minority groups.
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