Mar 20, 2025 06:07 PM
Scientific misconduct is on the rise. But what exactly is it?
https://theconversation.com/scientific-m...-it-247352
EXCERPTS: German anesthesiologist Joachim Boldt has an unfortunate claim to fame. [...] To date, 220 of his roughly 400 published research papers have been retracted by academic journals. [...] Boldt may be a world leader, but he has plenty of competition. In 2023, more than 10,000 research papers were retracted globally—more than any previous year on record.
Academic journals retract papers when they are concerned that the published data is faked, altered, or not "reproducible" (meaning it would yield the same results if analyzed again). Some errors are honest mistakes. However, the majority of retractions are associated with scientific misconduct. But what exactly is scientific misconduct? And what can be done about it? (MORE - details)
Organic agriculture is wasteful of land and water, and its products are prone to microbial contamination. It offers no advantages except to the grifters in its supply chain.
https://www.acsh.org/news/2025/03/18/org...hoax-49337
EXCERPTS: Many consumers are committed to organic products for reasons that are more emotional than logical. [...] A study of foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. found that the number of outbreaks associated with organic foods is greater than those stemming from conventionally grown ones. [...] Such dubious organic imports are an especially weak link. [...] The report concluded that National Organic Program officials have performed so poorly that fraud and corruption are common throughout the supply chain ... Thus, many consumers are paying a large premium to buy imported organic foods that aren't organic at all. [...] But here's the irony of ironies: With respect to food safety, consumers who are being bamboozled into buying conventional food masquerading as organic might actually be better off. Organic foods are notorious for contamination... (MORE - details)
https://theconversation.com/scientific-m...-it-247352
EXCERPTS: German anesthesiologist Joachim Boldt has an unfortunate claim to fame. [...] To date, 220 of his roughly 400 published research papers have been retracted by academic journals. [...] Boldt may be a world leader, but he has plenty of competition. In 2023, more than 10,000 research papers were retracted globally—more than any previous year on record.
Academic journals retract papers when they are concerned that the published data is faked, altered, or not "reproducible" (meaning it would yield the same results if analyzed again). Some errors are honest mistakes. However, the majority of retractions are associated with scientific misconduct. But what exactly is scientific misconduct? And what can be done about it? (MORE - details)
Organic agriculture is wasteful of land and water, and its products are prone to microbial contamination. It offers no advantages except to the grifters in its supply chain.
https://www.acsh.org/news/2025/03/18/org...hoax-49337
EXCERPTS: Many consumers are committed to organic products for reasons that are more emotional than logical. [...] A study of foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. found that the number of outbreaks associated with organic foods is greater than those stemming from conventionally grown ones. [...] Such dubious organic imports are an especially weak link. [...] The report concluded that National Organic Program officials have performed so poorly that fraud and corruption are common throughout the supply chain ... Thus, many consumers are paying a large premium to buy imported organic foods that aren't organic at all. [...] But here's the irony of ironies: With respect to food safety, consumers who are being bamboozled into buying conventional food masquerading as organic might actually be better off. Organic foods are notorious for contamination... (MORE - details)