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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on January 05, 2011, 14:40

Title: Science is self-correcting: Lessons from the arsenic controversy
Post by: sam on January 05, 2011, 14:40
Quote
Recent attention to NASA’s announcement of ‘arsenic-based life’  has provided a very public window into how science and scientists operate. Debate surrounds the announcement of any controversial scientific finding. In the case of arseno-DNA, the discussion that is playing out on the blogs  is very similar to the process that usually plays out in conferences and seminars. This discussion is a core process by which science works.

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2010/12/science-is-self-correcting-lessons-from-the-arsenic-controversy/
Title: Re: Science is self-correcting: Lessons from the arsenic controversy
Post by: Rik on January 05, 2011, 15:12
A clear demonstration that fast isn't always good, and that paper still has a use, Sam. ;)
Title: Re: Science is self-correcting: Lessons from the arsenic controversy
Post by: sam on January 05, 2011, 16:04
it does. Though I don't think the journal Science would be considered as a fast way of publishing. Still science is all about publishing and having people say you are wrong, so there is nothing really that wrong with what happened, just the processing being pointed out to people. The real problem is press releases  :crazy:
Title: Re: Science is self-correcting: Lessons from the arsenic controversy
Post by: Rik on January 05, 2011, 16:07
I know, I spent many years writing them and they were all crap!  ;D
Title: Re: Science is self-correcting: Lessons from the arsenic controversy
Post by: sam on January 05, 2011, 16:37
I know, I spent many years writing them and they were all crap!  ;D

lol
Title: Re: Science is self-correcting: Lessons from the arsenic controversy
Post by: Clive on January 05, 2011, 17:48
A very well written article Sam.  Peer review is only unpopular among the fringe scientists, most of whom are out to con.   :D   
Title: Re: Science is self-correcting: Lessons from the arsenic controversy
Post by: sam on January 05, 2011, 20:49
indeed, science needs peer review and one of the thing that stops the free-online only journals really - too costly to run with some kind of management