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Opinion: Science Needs Better Fraud Detection—And More Whistleblowers
An influential paper on amyloid protein and Alzheimer’s disease potentially fabricated data. Why did it take 16 years to flag?
Opinion: Science Needs Better Fraud Detection—And More Whistleblowers
Opinion: Science Needs Better Fraud Detection—And More Whistleblowers

An influential paper on amyloid protein and Alzheimer’s disease potentially fabricated data. Why did it take 16 years to flag?

An influential paper on amyloid protein and Alzheimer’s disease potentially fabricated data. Why did it take 16 years to flag?

scientific fraud

A wire mesh garbage can has toppled over, spilling crumpled papers onto the ground.
Gone but Not Forgotten: Retracted COVID-19 Papers Still Cited
Hannah Thomasy, PhD, Drug Discovery News | Jul 14, 2022 | 5 min read
University of Wollongong epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz speaks with The Scientist about his team’s finding that flawed and fraudulent COVID-19 research continues to be cited.
A Theranos sign outside the company's headquarters
Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes Convicted of Fraud
Amanda Heidt | Jan 4, 2022 | 4 min read
After a week of deliberation, a jury returned a guilty verdict on four charges related to wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Contributors
The Scientist Staff | Dec 1, 2020 | 4 min read
Meet some of the people featured in the December 2020 issue of The Scientist.
Timeline: When Bad Research Changes Public Health Strategy
Catherine Offord | Oct 1, 2020 | 1 min read
Illinois-based Surgisphere Corporation had a brief moment in the limelight this year following its infamous study of hydroxychloroquine. But the impact of the company’s deception reverberated across world.
The Surgisphere Scandal: What Went Wrong?
Catherine Offord | Oct 1, 2020 | 10+ min read
The high-profile retractions of two COVID-19 studies stunned the scientific community earlier this year and prompted calls for reviews of how science is conducted, published, and acted upon. The warning signs had been there all along.
Twitter, identity fraud, BethAnn McLaughlin, indigenous, scientist, fabrication, MeTooSTEM, sexual harassment
MeTooSTEM Leader Admits to Faking Twitter Account
Amanda Heidt | Aug 4, 2020 | 4 min read
BethAnn McLaughlin will step away from the organization after confirming allegations that she posed as @Sciencing_Bi, a fabricated queer indigenous researcher and victim of sexual harassment.
Special Report
Surgisphere Sows Confusion About Another Unproven COVID-19 Drug
Catherine Offord | Jun 16, 2020 | 10+ min read
The company behind a now-discredited study on hydroxychloroquine also posted a report that has been cited by Latin American governments recommending ivermectin as a possible coronavirus treatment. Clinicians there say the effects have been extremely damaging.
Paper Used in Creationist Teaching Retracted After 30 Years
Ashley Yeager | Nov 11, 2019 | 2 min read
Criticism of the paper first surfaced in 1994, and its author was accused of scientific misconduct.
University College London Geneticist Cleared of Wrongdoing
Jef Akst | Dec 5, 2018 | 1 min read
A second investigation by the school concludes that David Latchman, also the head of Birkbeck, University of London, was not involved in the image manipulation found in papers he coauthored.
University of Edinburgh Demands Retraction of Researcher’s Papers
Sukanya Charuchandra | Jul 23, 2018 | 1 min read
Cell biologist Irina Stancheva was dismissed in June 2017 after a scientific misconduct investigation.
Retractions Damage Scientists’ Reputations: Study
Aggie Mika | Sep 8, 2017 | 2 min read
Authors of rescinded papers see a 10 percent to 20 percent decline in citation rates for their other publications. 
The Past and Present of Research Integrity in China
Ben Andrew Henry | Mar 1, 2017 | 7 min read
Several initiatives aim to improve research integrity in the country, but recent high-profile cases of misconduct highlight a lingering problem.
Duke Sued for Millions over Fraudulent Data
Jef Akst | Sep 6, 2016 | 1 min read
A lawsuit claims that Duke University and biologist Erin Potts-Kant used bad data in projects funded by dozens of government grants.
More Retractions for Cancer Researcher
Tanya Lewis | Jun 22, 2016 | 1 min read
An institutional investigation has found evidence of image manipulation in two studies coauthored by Bharat Aggarwal.
Fraudulent Paper Pulled
Bob Grant | Jan 5, 2016 | 1 min read
Nature retracts a study six years after an investigation found that the protein structures it reported were fabricated.
Speaking of Science 2015
Bob Grant | Dec 30, 2015 | 3 min read
A year’s worth of noteworthy quotes
The Top 10 Retractions of 2015
Retraction Watch | Dec 22, 2015 | 3 min read
A look at this year’s most memorable retractions
Scientific Misconduct: Red Flags
John R. Thomas Jr. | Dec 1, 2015 | 6 min read
Warning signs that scandal might be brewing in your lab
 
Speaking of Science
The Scientist Staff | May 1, 2015 | 2 min read
May 2015's selection of notable quotes
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