Search Results for: sting

Second correx for controversial paper on the financial benefits of climate change

The Journal of Economic Perspectives has published a second correction for a 2009 paper that argued that some amount of global warming could lead to economic gains. The author of “The Economic Effects of Climate Change,” Richard Tol, a professor of economics at the University of Sussex, blamed earlier problems with the paper on “gremlins.” In a … Continue reading Second correx for controversial paper on the financial benefits of climate change

Former FDA chemist who admitted taking bribe wins back right to work in drug industry, 20 years later

More than 20 years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permanently debarred a former chemist for accepting bribes — and a puzzling 17 years after he asked for a pardon after helping the agency prosecute other cases — the FDA is lifting its debarment. In 1994, chemist David J. Brancato: …was permanently debarred from … Continue reading Former FDA chemist who admitted taking bribe wins back right to work in drug industry, 20 years later

Weekend reads: How to publish in Nature; social media circumvents peer review; impatience leads to fakery

The week at Retraction Watch featured a look at why a fraudster’s papers continued to earn citations after he went to prison, and criticism of Science by hundreds of researchers. Here’s what was happening elsewhere:

ASU professor is demoted, will correct book following “unattributed and poorly paraphrased material”

Matthew Whitaker at Arizona State University is revising a textbook about modern African-American history after it was found to contain “unattributed and poorly paraphrased material,” according to a statement from the author. The revised version of the book Peace Be Still: Modern Black America from World War II to Barack Obama will include “a statement of … Continue reading ASU professor is demoted, will correct book following “unattributed and poorly paraphrased material”

Weekend reads: California universities battle in court for research dollars; fake conferences; fake impact factors

This week at Retraction Watch featured a look at the nuances of replication efforts, aka “the replication paradox,” as well as yet another story of fake peer reviews, this time at Hindawi. Here’s what was happening elsewhere:

High-profile biologist is suspended after two investigations found he “breached his duty of care”, committed “misconduct”

High-profile plant biologist Olivier Voinnet has been suspended for two years from the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) following the results of two investigations that revealed a number of issues in his publication record. An investigation at ETH Zurich found that the scientist “breached his duty of care in the handling of figures as well as in … Continue reading High-profile biologist is suspended after two investigations found he “breached his duty of care”, committed “misconduct”

New York Times says it “would not have assigned” elephant article to writer had they known of conflict

Although we nearly always stick to covering the scientific literature, we sometimes write about cases in other media that shed light on how different outlets correct the record. This is one of those times. The New York Times issued an editor’s note and correction last week to a June 26 article about Happy the elephant, … Continue reading New York Times says it “would not have assigned” elephant article to writer had they known of conflict

Weekend reads: Is failing to share data misconduct?; worst journal ever; Elsevier boycott

The big news this week at Retraction Watch was the release of more than two dozen retractions for accounting researcher James Hunton, and the sentencing of Dong-Pyou Han for scientific fraud (see more below). Here’s what was happening elsewhere:

Editors retract algae study, citing “issues with the data”

The International Journal of Phytoremediation  has issued a retraction for a 2013 article suggesting algae could shield against gamma radiation better than lead. Sadly, such an innovation was not to be — the editors have pulled the paper, saying: We are now cognizant that there are issues with the data and determinations made within the manuscript … Continue reading Editors retract algae study, citing “issues with the data”

Lancet journal removes Buddha cover art following protest

The Lancet Infectious Diseases has removed a cover illustration of the Buddha contemplating a mosquito from its June, 2015 issue — a complement to a paper about malaria treatment in Cambodia — after receiving emails from readers who protested the depiction of the statue in a non-religious context. After publishing the cover, the journal received … Continue reading Lancet journal removes Buddha cover art following protest