The __Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences__ has halted the print publication of a controversial scientific paper, saying it's investigating the conditions under which it was ushered through peer review by a distinguished academy member who advocated for its inclusion in the journal. The linkurl:paper;http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/08/25/0908357106.abstract, written by University of Liverpool researcher linkurl:Donald Williamson,;http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/bios/williamson.html posited that butterflies are the evolutionary result of a long-ago mating between worm-like and winged ancestors. It appeared in the early edition on __PNAS__'s website on August 28th and was to appear in the print version of the journal soon. But according to the linkurl:__Times Higher Education__,;http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=408496&c=1 __PNAS__ has decided to hold up on printing the study after a flood of negative reactions from biologists about the paper and the journal's practice of allowing academy members to "communicate" manuscripts as a way to speed their publication. __PNAS__ linkurl:announced;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55970/ last month that it would be doing away...
Interested in reading more?
Become a Member of
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!