Last year, scientists at Advanced Cell Technologies published a paper in Nature demonstrating proof of the principle that embryonic stem cell lines could be propagated by removing just one cell from a blastocyst. This finding suggested that embryos would not have to be destroyed in the process. A journal press release far overstated the case for the success of the method, however, which led to two clarifications from the press office the same day the embargo broke.
For many seasoned observers of science, major journals risk losing credibility when press releases are issued with added "spin" before publication. When research makes headlines, science journalists facilitate a kind of postpublication scientific review. Their interviews with other scientists, as well as the author, reflect the collective wisdom and opinion of far more scientists than the number involved in the peer review.
Currently the extended review process is left to chance, and often ...
