Tag

Scientific Integrity

All articles tagged with #scientific integrity

science14 days ago•52 min saved

BMJ retracts vaccine-death study, triggering debate over science and politics

The BMJ retracted a 2024 Dutch study suggesting COVID-19 vaccines may have contributed to excess pandemic deaths, citing misinformation in the discussion and lack of reflection of scientific consensus. The authors and three Dutch experts dispute the rationale, arguing political pressure may have influenced the decision. The case has reignited arguments about scientific integrity and post-publication scrutiny in vaccine-safety research, amid broader public-health debates and related compensation schemes.

via Yahoo|

#bmj #netherlands #retraction

science18 days ago•9 min saved

Princeton student self-retracts high-school PVC biodegradability study to pursue a better follow-up

A Princeton sophomore, Rishika Porandla, retracted her high-school paper on PVC biodegradability after uncovering two methodological errors during replication; Wiley’s Macromolecular Materials and Engineering retracted it in May, highlighting her honesty and scientific integrity. Porandla plans a corrected, more rigorous follow-up manuscript, turning the retraction into a starting point for a stronger study.

via Retraction Watch|

#materials-science #pvc-biodegradability #retraction

technology2 months ago•4 min saved

Frontiers Editor Quits Over AI-Powered Peer Review Tool

An associate editor at Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience resigned, alleging that the publisher’s AI-driven reviewer invitation system (AIRA) undermines editorial control and risks compromising the peer-review process; the publisher says editors retain discretion and is reviewing the incident, while some editors report mixed experiences with AI automation, which the publisher argues can speed up review when used with human oversight.

via The Transmitter|

#ai-publishing #editorial-automation #frontiers-in-systems-neuroscience

science3 months ago•7 min saved

Widespread image manipulation flagged in Thermo Fisher antibody catalog

Researchers documented 127 problematic images in Thermo Fisher's antibody catalogue, finding more than 100 manipulated images—ranging from duplicated western blot bands to painted backgrounds and identical blot backdrops. The findings contribute to ongoing concerns about the reliability of commercial antibodies; Thermo Fisher says it is conducting an internal review and will inform users when images have been optimized for presentation.

via Nature|

#antibodies #image-manipulation #science

science5 months ago•7 min saved

Honest mistakes deserve correction: scientists push for transparency after retractions

A Nature feature argues that retracting papers due to honest errors should be normalized to protect the scientific record, sharing stories like Nicole King’s Science retraction, noting incentives such as the Ctrl-Z Award, and emphasizing supportive, calm collaboration among researchers and journals to reduce stigma and encourage transparent corrections.

via Nature|

#open-science #publishing #retractions

ethics5 months ago•15 min saved

Chemist's 35 Retractions in 24 Months Sparks Integrity Debate

A chemistry researcher had 35 papers retracted within 24 months for a mix of issues including major errors in analyses, compromised peer review, image-related problems, and citation manipulation. Most retractions appeared in Elsevier- and Royal Society of Chemistry–published journals, placing the scientist on Retraction Watch’s leaderboard. Coauthors have defended the work as a matter of presentation rather than fraudulent data.

via C&EN|

#ethics #peer-review #retraction-watch

health7 months ago•6 min saved

NIH Leadership Crisis Sparks Concerns Over Scientific Integrity

A group of former NIH scientists and administrators have resigned in protest, citing political interference, censorship, and undermining of scientific integrity by the current administration, which they believe threatens public health, scientific progress, and democratic freedoms.

via statnews.com|

#health #nih #political-interference

health-and-technology10 months ago•8 min saved

The Rise of Fake AI Doctors and the Risks of Misinformation in Healthcare

The article discusses the risks of bias, hallucinations, and opacity in AI systems used in health research, highlighting how these issues threaten the reliability and trustworthiness of medical data and findings, and proposing solutions like transparency and better oversight to mitigate these risks.

via Ars Technica|

#ai-hallucinations #ai-in-medicine #health-and-technology

science10 months ago•5 min saved

Chemists Urge Ban on AI-Generated Chemical Structure Drawings

Two chemists warn that AI-generated molecular structures are often incorrect, which could harm chemistry education and scientific accuracy, calling for a ban on AI use for chemical representations until the technology improves.

via Chemistry World|

#ai-in-chemistry #chemical-education #chemical-structures

health11 months ago•4 min saved

Publisher Probes DNA Contamination in Vaccine Paper Under CDC Review

The publisher Taylor & Francis is investigating a paper claiming DNA contamination in COVID-19 vaccines after concerns were raised on PubPeer, just as the CDC committee is set to review vaccine safety, with the authors suggesting their findings will be discussed in upcoming meetings. The study's methods and references have been questioned, highlighting issues with the measurement techniques and regulatory compliance, raising broader concerns about peer review and scientific accuracy.

via Retraction Watch|

#autoimmunity #covid-19-vaccines #dna-contamination

politics11 months ago•5 min saved

Former CDC Leaders to Criticize RFK Jr. and Warn of Vaccine Risks

Susan Monarez, the former CDC director, is set to testify before the Senate that she was fired for upholding scientific integrity, amid disputes over vaccine policy and political interference under Secretary Kennedy. The hearing will also feature former CDC officials criticizing politicization of science, highlighting tensions within public health leadership.

via The New York Times|

#cdc #firing #politics

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Scientists Criticize Energy Department's Climate Report as Unreliable

Over 85 leading climate scientists criticized the Trump Energy Department's recent climate assessment for lacking scientific integrity, alleging it misrepresents current climate science, relies on debunked research, and is biased towards a particular policy stance, prompting over 2,000 public comments.

via NBC News|

#climate-assessment #climate-change #energy-department

science-and-technology1 year ago•4 min saved

AI Uncovers Over 1,000 Fake Science Journals to Protect Research Integrity

A team of computer scientists developed an AI-based classifier to identify questionable open access scientific journals, which often prioritize fees over editorial quality, aiming to combat the proliferation of predatory publishing and improve scientific integrity.

via theregister.com|

#ai-detection #open-access-journals #predatory-publishing

science1 year ago•5 min saved

Rising Scientific Fraud Threatens Trust in Research

A new report warns that while astronomy has largely avoided scientific fraud, the rise of criminal organizations producing fake research could threaten the integrity of scientific literature, especially as space research grows and AI is used to generate fake papers, potentially polluting the field and hindering genuine scientific progress.

via Space|

#ai-and-fake-science #astronomy #paper-mills

environment1 year ago•3 min saved

Energy Department Faces Criticism Over Climate Report Revisions

Scientists criticize US Energy Secretary Chris Wright's plan to 'update' and potentially alter the authoritative climate crisis reports, raising concerns about political interference and misinformation, as the Trump administration seeks to downplay climate change impacts and roll back regulations.

via The Guardian|

#climate-crisis #climate-reports #energy-policy