Latest news with #NobelPrize-winning
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Trump is poised to grab control of the Fed next year
President Donald Trump wants the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates by three percentage points, a massive cut that could push borrowing costs back to pandemic lows. With two seats at the Fed likely opening up soon, he may finally get the chance to reshape the central bank and force the aggressive easing he is demanding. Governor Adriana Kugler's term expires in January 2026 and Jerome Powell's term as chair ends in May 2026. If Trump replaces both and Powell steps down from the board entirely (a typical move for departing chairs), the president will be responsible for appointing four of the seven governors. That is a working majority alongside a chair who may share his appetite for deep rate cuts. In theory, this could tilt the Federal Open Market Committee toward the kind of easing Trump wants. In practice, it isn't that simple. The Fed has held its benchmark rate steady at 4.25% to 4.50% despite cooling inflation and softening job growth. Powell says the committee needs more time to assess how tariffs and fiscal policy will ripple through the economy. He has made clear that July's inflation report–released after the Fed's next meeting–will be crucial. That makes a July cut unlikely. Some of Trump's Fed appointees are already laying the groundwork for easier policy. Governor Christopher Waller argues the labor market is weaker than headline numbers suggest and inflation risks are fading. He has hinted he may dissent at this month's meeting if the committee doesn't cut rates. Vice chair for supervision Michelle Bowman, also a Trump pick, has turned more dovish recently. The timing of these shifts matter, says Will Denyer at Gavekal Research. Waller has emerged as a front-runner to replace Powell next year. Unlike other potential nominees, he is already a sitting governor, Senate-confirmed and widely respected within the Fed system. But Trump's three-point cut isn't just unlikely, it's out of step with current economic conditions. The economy is still growing at a moderate pace, inflation remains above the Fed's 2% target and tariff uncertainty clouds the outlook. That hasn't stopped the president from pushing. He argues ultralow rates would slash the cost of servicing national debt, posting on social media: 'Very Low Inflation. One Trillion Dollars a year would be saved!!!" He's also continued ad hominem attacks on Powell. Market expectations are far more modest. Futures pricing suggests investors expect two quarter percentage point cuts by year-end, matching the Fed's own forecasts. Citi economists see a September move as increasingly likely, especially if job market data weakens further. But that is a long way from Trump's three-percentage-point target. Economists warn that such dramatic easing would require a seismic shift in expectations. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman has compared Trump's approach to monetary policy to President Erdogan's in Turkey, where politically driven easing led to runaway inflation and emergency hikes. Whether Trump succeeds in reshaping the Fed depends on who he nominates and how far they're willing to go. The window is opening. But for now, Powell is still chair and the center of the committee still favors caution. That could change in 2026. Write to Nicole Goodkind at
Observer
14-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
HiShopping celebrates 30K user milestone, reinforces community vision
MUSCAT: HiShopping, Oman's emerging super app, marked a significant milestone with a major event in Muscat celebrating its rapidly growing user base and outlining its long-term digital vision. The event, held at the Grand Millennium Hotel's Grand Ballroom, brought together more than 1,000 guests, including senior investors from the UAE, China, Taiwan and Singapore, as well as leading social media influencers and public figures. Organised by Polaris Investment SPC, the ceremony combined celebration with strategy, unveiling HiShopping's road map for future growth while reinforcing its commitment to empowering consumers and merchants across the Sultanate and beyond. The highlight of the evening was the continuation of HiShopping's generous monthly giveaway campaign. With over 30,000 active users now on the platform and more than 2,000 registered merchants, HiShopping has pledged to give away three brand-new cars every month, alongside a selection of premium electronics and home appliances. The campaign, branded as 'Recharge & Get Now', offers customers the chance to win items such as an iPhone 16 Plus, Samsung smartphones, smart TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air fryers and juicers — all by simply recharging through the platform. In his keynote address, Shaikh Hamad al Suwaidi, Chairman of HiShopping, welcomed guests with a message of gratitude and ambition. 'Your presence honours us, and I would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone here,' he said. He also acknowledged the vital support of Oman's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, which he described as a key driver behind the platform's rapid rise. 'Since our launch on January 26, we have witnessed remarkable growth,' he added. 'Our ambition is to become the leading gateway for smart digital living in Oman and the region.' Shaikh Hamad is a well-known Emirati businessman with a storied career that extends far beyond the tech space. He is the founder of Al Ghwaiis Stables for Horses and Camels, with a long-standing presence in regional racing circles. A close associate of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan and Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamad's name is synonymous with traditional sports, entrepreneurship and innovation. His ventures include Al Ghwaiis Car Rental, the first mobile restaurant in the UAE (1982), and an instrumental role in the conceptual design of Ski Dubai. Today, he continues to manage a diversified investment portfolio while actively promoting heritage sports. What distinguishes HiShopping from other platforms is its unique economic model, rooted in the work of Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Mundell. Inspired by Mundell's theory of optimal currency areas, the platform has adopted a framework that focuses on equitable value sharing between businesses and consumers. In doing so, HiShopping challenges conventional e-commerce norms, adopting a user-centric approach where a share of profits is reinvested back into the community, rewarding consumers and reinforcing loyalty. This philosophy is echoed in the platform's core values, which were prominently displayed at the event. These include promoting transparency, offering high-quality products at lower costs and empowering local communities through digital engagement. HiShopping also emphasises the use of artificial intelligence, innovation and e-commerce technologies to create opportunities that benefit consumers, advertisers and partners alike. The company's slogan, 'Empowering Communities, Improving Lives', encapsulates its broader mission — to build a more inclusive, sustainable digital economy across Oman and the wider Gulf. HiShopping is more than just a digital marketplace; it aims to become a comprehensive super app. From payment solutions to product discovery and community engagement, the platform envisions a unified digital experience that serves both individual consumers and small businesses. This integrated approach is particularly important in Oman, where growing digital connectivity is opening new doors for local entrepreneurs and consumers alike. The event also served as an opportunity to strengthen ties with the media, as an official invitation was extended to national and regional outlets to attend and cover the occasion. With expectations of future collaborations, the organisers underlined the media's essential role in sharing success stories and building trust with the public. As Oman pushes forward with its Vision 2040 goals, which include digital transformation, economic diversification and SMEs empowerment, platforms like HiShopping are gaining momentum as engines of innovation. By combining sound economic theory with real-world incentives and community-based programmes, HiShopping offers a promising model for inclusive growth in the digital age. As the evening came to a close, attendees took part in prize draws, entertainment segments and networking opportunities, all wrapped in a festive atmosphere. With plans for expansion and product diversification on the horizon, HiShopping is well-positioned to reshape the region's e-commerce landscape, one recharge at a time.
Boston Globe
10-07-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Fanny Howe, acclaimed writer of poetry and novels, dies at 84
And she did in 'At the beginning, I would write a novel and then some poetry,' she said in Advertisement Ms. Howe, who both drew and departed from a family literary heritage that reached deep into Boston Brahmin and Irish traditions, died Tuesday in hospice care. Health issues had emerged and escalated quickly over the past couple of weeks upon her return home from a visit to Ireland, where she attended the opening of one of her late mother's plays. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up She was 84 and had lived in Cambridge for many years, after decades filled with a series of moves that could be as peripatetic as her writing. 'I think in the widest sense, she's really kind of a poet's poet,' said the Advertisement Danzy Senna, a daughter of Ms. Howe who is In 2009, the Poetry Foundation honored Ms. Howe's lifetime achievement with its prestigious Five of her novels were collected into a single volume titled 'Radical Love.' Some book critics suggested those novels were at least adjacent to autobiography. Ms. Howe sidestepped that description, writing instead in an author's note: 'I hope this collection will contribute to a literary tradition that resists distinctions between poetry and fiction as one way to save history from the doom of duality.' Taking on subjects that ranged from the complexities of families to politics and race relations in Boston and anywhere else, Ms. Howe 'spent her life interested in the lowly, those who were left out. She never looked away,' said 'She was truly one of the great poets of Boston and Cambridge,' he said. 'Her work is of the highest order.' In poems and prose Ms. Howe 'had a terrific ear — the sound of her work is great. If you read it aloud, it's wonderful,' said Advertisement Ms. Howe, she added, 'had both an interesting awareness of human failing, including her own, and a kind of endless interest in the world.' Sometimes called an experimental writer — 'She was funny, and she was fun, and kind of mischievous,' Armantrout said. 'I remember her laugh,' she said, adding that at gatherings of friends, Ms. Howe would 'sit at one end of the table and laugh raucously.' Fanny Quincy Howe was born in Buffalo on Oct. 15, 1940, and moved with her mother and older sister to Cambridge soon after, while her father served in the Army during World War II. Her mother, Mary Manning, was an Irish playwright, novelist, and actress. A founder of The Poets' Theatre in Cambridge, she counted among her close friends the Nobel Prize-winning writer Samuel Beckett. Ms. Howe's father, Her older sister, Susan Howe of Guilford, Conn., Advertisement Already keenly observant as a young girl, Ms. Howe was attentive to the differences between her life and what others endured. 'As I began to see injustice close up, I was filled with a desire to understand what made people who had suffered for nothing want to go on living,' She added that she became 'uncomfortable with what was given to me as a birthright and what later came to be understood (by me and my culture) as meaning: White. White meant adult, condescending, cold, pale, driven, individualist, judging, and theoretical. White meant distant, detached, ironic, skeptical, ambitious, Protestant.' A rebellious young student who courted suspensions, Ms. Howe found her way to Stanford University, which she attended for three years without taking a degree. Ms. Howe's stellar writing led to teaching stints at Tufts University, Emerson College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Columbia, Yale, and Georgetown universities; Kenyon College and UC San Diego, where she retired as a professor emerita. After Ms. Howe's time at Stanford, her brief marriage to Frederick Delafield ended in divorce. Encouraged by her father to return to Boston, she was editing a literary magazine with Though Ms. Howe was born into Brahmin privilege, 'there was no trust fund,' she once wrote. Her years as a single mother included multiple jobs and residences, some shared with other single mothers and their children. Danzy Senna described that time as 'very bohemian, hardscrabble.' Advertisement 'She was a completely free person,' Senna said. 'I think she was handing the inheritance of freedom to us.' During those years, 'my most vivid memory of her is at her typewriter, just banging away at her poetry and novels and trying to block out the noise,' Senna said. While some critics make much of the fragmented, experimental nature of some of Ms. Howe's writing, 'the form was in some ways created by necessity,' her daughter said. 'I think it got more experimental because she was trying to be a writer with three children and no money — that's the experiment.' In addition to her daughter and two sisters, Ms. Howe leaves another daughter, A celebration of Ms. Howe's life and work will be announced. She converted to Catholicism as an adult and explored her relationship to faith in her writing. 'I was raised Protestant, or atheist, and I'd always felt sort of bereft in the world — like, 'Why be here?' Catholicism was a wonderful thing to come across when I was in such desperate straits,' she told The Paris Review. Ms. Howe's 'very savage generosity was really coming from a very spiritual loving place that was very political in a profound way,' the poet Eileen Myles said. Among the works in Ms. Howe's 'Selected Poems' is one titled 'In the Spirit There Are No Accidents,' which begins: 'God is already ahead and waiting: the future is full.' Advertisement She ends by writing: 'The land is an incarnation/like a hand on a hand on an arm asking do you know me ?' Bryan Marquard can be reached at
Daily Maverick
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Are we still human? On writing and humanism, and why history matters
It is easy these days to fall into despair and helpless outrage, to feel utterly powerless, even as some of us march and protest against the conditions of terror and violence that are escalating around the globe. Easy to despair as, sitting on my couch, hundreds of thousands are being starved, killed, forced to flee; as Donald Trump launches his grand (birthday) military parade; and as I read an interview with Doris Lessing from 1981. The Nobel Prize-winning novelist spent her formative years in southern Africa, in what was then Rhodesia, a place where she railed against the wrongs of life in a racist and oppressive colonial society. In the interview, she is asked, 'What can you accomplish with your books?' 'Not much,' she replies. 'Not much,' I respond, sitting on my couch, far away from Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, the United States. 'Not much,' I say again, looking across at my desk where papers and notebooks are stacked, waiting for me. Instead, I read further, come to the part of the interview where Lessing speaks of her futile hope that 'our politicians should be human beings… who know, respect, and understand their fellow human beings'. Human beings. It is difficult not to swear or spit or laugh. Are they human beings, these men in power, doing the things they are doing? Can any of us remain human with these horrors occurring daily? Why writers and history can matter This is the despair taking over. But in better moments, I can remember some of the reasons that are given about why people like myself – writers – can matter, why history matters, what we can learn from them both, what they can mean to us all. Just recently, I have been thinking a lot about humanism, its development, and its connection to writing. Perhaps it is simply an attempt to find something on which to hold – there is a poem by Elizabeth Jennings (no relation) titled, In a Mental Hospital Sitting Room, where she writes, 'there are no lifebelts here on which to fasten'. Perhaps this essay is no more than a desperate grab for a lifebelt on which to fasten, a reaching out for some meaning, some trick or answer that can be used to drag me/us out of despair. I'll start a little over 2,000 years ago, near Carthage (in present-day Tunisia, North Africa). It is here that the man who was later known as Publius Terentius Afer (Afer refers to his being from Africa) or simply Terence to the English-speaking world, was born into slavery in roughly 190 BCE. At some point in his childhood or youth, he was taken to Rome to continue his enslaved existence. However, being handsome and clever, he was fortunate enough to be given his freedom while still a teenager, with the added bonus that his education was not only encouraged, but also paid for by his former enslaver. Terence used this education to become a playwright, focusing on comedies, ones which are still read and performed to this day. In one of these plays, Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor) a character declares: ' Homo sum, humani nihil a me alimento puto ' (I am human, and consider nothing human alien to me). In context, the line would have been greeted with laughter from the audience since it is a nosy neighbour's response to being asked why he can't mind his own business. But, as Sarah Bakewell notes in her Humanly Possible (2023), the line sums up an essential humanist belief: that we are all tied up in one another's lives. To be clear, Terence was not a humanist himself – that philosophy wouldn't develop properly for almost one and a half thousand years, by which time the rediscovered classical texts of Greece and Rome served as models for the new humanist way of life. It was then that Terence's neat phrase was picked up by the Italian humanists and has remained significant in humanistic thinking ever since. As humanism spread from Italy across Europe, one of the most influential thinkers was the Frenchman Michel de Montaigne, who was such a great admirer of Terence that he had the famous quote written on a ceiling beam in his personal library. More than that, he found the plays to hold within them 'the movements of the soul and the state of our characters; at every moment our actions throw me back to [Terence].' This was, in his opinion, the value of the written word – books constitute an essential role in enriching our lives through understanding others. Montaigne found that it was especially in biographies and histories that humans are 'more alive and entire than in any other place'. In other words, it is through books, with details of the past and individuals who have lived, that we come to a greater understanding of what it is to be human, in all its complexity, variation, and confusion. David Hume With time, as the Renaissance made way for the Enlightenment, David Hume, a Scottish philosopher, stepped forward. He was a promoter of the need for evidence, and was one of the most unwavering critics of religion in his time. He did not believe in miracles or the concept of God-given morality. Instead, as a humanist, he believed that our morality lies in our own, human ability to feel sympathy for our fellow man. A noble belief, without a doubt. Yet, in a footnote, he made clear that this morality and sympathy did not apply to Africans, since they were barbarous and inferior with 'no ingenious manufacturers amongst them, no arts, no science'. Unfortunately, such thinking was not uncommon at the time. In fact, as rationalism took over and the world moved towards a desire to control and classify all things, systems of separation and rankings within those systems began to dominate scientific thinking and filter into the beliefs of ordinary citizens. Carl Linnaeus Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus invented the modern classification system which arranges organisms into several categories, from kingdom to species. This became the basis for the universal method of taxonomy that is still in use today. In 1740 he unveiled his maiden attempt at human organisation, comprising four basic groups determined by skin colour: ' Europaeus albus, Americanus rubescens, Asiaticus fuscus, Africanus niger '; that is, European white, American red, Asian yellow and African black. In 1758, when his Systema Naturae had gone into its tenth edition, he added two further types, namely wild men and monsters. To these he did not ascribe colours, but their addition tells us much about how preconceived notions regarding humankind influenced the system of classification. Yet, it is important to note that despite these differences in colour and behaviour, Linnaeus was clear that all men were of the same species. His belief was that, in fact, all men were created equal, each one composed of the same basic material, and each with the same capacity for mental and moral achievement. Anti-slavery sentiment The idea of all men being created equal persisted, despite the oftentimes simultaneous and contradictory belief in European superiority. Eventually, towards the end of the 18th century, powerful anti-slavery sentiment spread across Europe and North America, as well as the colonies. The suggestion was that all humankind had the same right to freedom, and freedom to pursue their own progress and advancement. The demand for the abolition of slavery manifested itself in the literature of the time in a multitude of ways, from the moral to the political, to the economic and the anthropological. One of the most celebrated campaigners for abolition was Frederick Douglass, who escaped his enslavement in Maryland in 1838 and fled to New York. A famous example of the humanism evident in Douglass's thinking appears in a letter that he wrote to his former enslaver, Thomas Auld, on the tenth anniversary of his escape. Douglass requests that Auld consider how he might feel if the humiliation and abuse Douglass had suffered at his hands had been inflicted upon Auld's daughter. Would the torture have been justified and natural then? Lodewijk There is another similar case, slightly earlier and closer to home in Cape Town. In November 1827, an enslaved 18-year-old male named Lodewijk protected his enslaved mother from a beating from the son of a white neighbour. The neighbour, Willem Boonsayer, complained to Lodewijk's enslaver that his son had been assaulted by Lodewijk. He also reported the assault to the authorities. When confronted, Lodewijk said he had done no more than push the boy away, and he had witnesses to testify that no violence had been done. Even so, he was taken to jail and flogged. Lodewijk had a petition drawn up by a notary, asking the government to explain how he had transgressed the law by stepping in to protect his mother. 'Though he is a slave,' writes the notary, 'yet he feels the same natural affection towards his mother as Mr Boonsayer can feel for his son.' In both these pleas, there is a simple request to be seen as human and equal, that same plea which was adopted by the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade: 'Am I not a man and a brother? Am I not a woman and a sister?' Abolition and colonialism While the 19th century did see the eventual abolition of slavery across the globe (a slow process, with it occurring formally in South Africa in 1838, for example, but only half a century later in Brazil), a form of slavery or servitude continued in European colonies. This was most notable in Africa, a continent which had been cut up and doled out to European powers in the late 19th century. As exiled South African writer Alex la Guma observed in his 1981 essay, Walk Among the Multitudes: 'I introduce colonialism because it is obviously impossible to talk about any aspect of African life without mentioning this horrendous phenomenon, which for generations smothered the continent in a stifling blanket of ignorance, poverty and stagnation.' La Guma was not the only one to speak out against the confines of colonialism and its impact on all aspects and experiences of life. In 1961, Frantz Fanon remarked in The Wretched of the Earth about 'Europe where they were never done talking of Man, and where they never stopped proclaiming that they were only anxious for the welfare of Man: today we know with what sufferings humanity has paid for every one of their triumphs of their mind,' concluding that, 'We do not want to catch up with anyone. What we want to do is to go forward all the time, night and day, in the company of Man, in the company of all men.' Again, this was the wish of so many in the 20th century: to be seen as equals; not to be tamed and moulded, but to grow and improve together. Here I return to Montaigne, reminded of his belief that it is through reading about others, as well as other places, that we learn about being human, understanding not only something beyond ourselves, but ourselves as well. Literature, rather than separating us, brings us together. After all, it is through writing and reading that the speaker in Oswald Mtshali's poem can be […] a man Amongst men […] [not] a faceless man Who lives in the backyard Of your house. I do not suggest that a single poem, nor even a single poet, can change the world just by existing. Literature cannot prevent pain and suffering; it cannot change history and injustice. But – and this is where its true value lies – it has the potential to create conditions and cultures which facilitate important endings and beginnings, such as abolition, such as independence, such as the end of apartheid, the end of genocides and tyrannies. In this sense, every writer is a promoter of humanism because their general project is one of understanding others – a project that extends to their readers, uniting us all. If our politicians cannot be human, let us, at the very least, remain so. Yes, continue to protest, but read and write as well. Educate yourself and others, create a culture in which each person is able to turn to their neighbours and recognise them, irrevocably, as fellow human beings. DM
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientific norms shape the behavior of researchers working for the greater good
Over the past 400 years or so, a set of mostly unwritten guidelines has evolved for how science should be properly done. The assumption in the research community is that science advances most effectively when scientists conduct themselves in certain ways. The first person to write down these attitudes and behaviors was Robert Merton, in 1942. The founder of the sociology of science laid out what he called the 'ethos of science,' a set of 'values and norms which is held to be binding on the man of science.' (Yes, it's sexist wording. Yes, it was the 1940s.) These now are referred to as scientific norms. The point of these norms is that scientists should behave in ways that improve the collective advancement of knowledge. If you're a cynic, you might be rolling your eyes at such a Pollyannaish ideal. But corny expectations keep the world functioning. Think: Be kind, clean up your mess, return the shopping cart to the cart corral. I'm a physical geographer who realized long ago that students are taught biology in biology classes and chemistry in chemistry classes, but rarely are they taught about the overarching concepts of science itself. So I wrote a book called 'The Scientific Endeavor,' laying out what scientists and other educated people should know about science itself. Scientists in training are expected to learn the big picture of science after years of observing their mentors, but that doesn't always happen. And understanding what drives scientists can help nonscientists better understand research findings. These scientific norms are a big part of the scientific endeavor. Here are Merton's original four, along with a couple I think are worth adding to the list: Scientific knowledge is for everyone – it's universal – and not the domain of an individual or group. In other words, a scientific claim must be judged on its merits, not the person making it. Characteristics like a scientist's nationality, gender or favorite sports team should not affect how their work is judged. Also, the past record of a scientist shouldn't influence how you judge whatever claim they're currently making. For instance, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling was not able to convince most scientists that large doses of vitamin C are medically beneficial; his evidence didn't sufficiently support his claim. In practice, it's hard to judge contradictory claims fairly when they come from a 'big name' in the field versus an unknown researcher without a reputation. It is, however, easy to point out such breaches of universalism when others let scientific fame sway their opinion one way or another about new work. Communism in science is the idea that scientific knowledge is the property of everyone and must be shared. Jonas Salk, who led the research that resulted in the polio vaccine, provides a classic example of this scientific norm. He published the work and did not patent the vaccine so that it could be freely produced at low cost. When scientific research doesn't have direct commercial application, communism is easy to practice. When money is involved, however, things get complicated. Many scientists work for corporations, and they might not publish their findings in order to keep them away from competitors. The same goes for military research and cybersecurity, where publishing findings could help the bad guys. Disinterestedness refers to the expectation that scientists pursue their work mainly for the advancement of knowledge, not to advance an agenda or get rich. The expectation is that a researcher will share the results of their work, regardless of a finding's implications for their career or economic bottom line. Research on politically hot topics, like vaccine safety, is where it can be tricky to remain disinterested. Imagine a scientist who is strongly pro-vaccine. If their vaccine research results suggest serious danger to children, the scientist is still obligated to share these findings. Likewise, if a scientist has invested in a company selling a drug, and the scientist's research shows that the drug is dangerous, they are morally compelled to publish the work even if that would hurt their income. In addition, when publishing research, scientists are required to disclose any conflicts of interest related to the work. This step informs others that they may want to be more skeptical in evaluating the work, in case self-interest won out over disinterest. Disinterestedness also applies to journal editors, who are obligated to decide whether to publish research based on the science, not the political or economic implications. Merton's last norm is organized skepticism. Skepticism does not mean rejecting ideas because you don't like them. To be skeptical in science is to be highly critical and look for weaknesses in a piece of research. This concept is formalized in the peer review process. When a scientist submits an article to a journal, the editor sends it to two or three scientists familiar with the topic and methods used. They read it carefully and point out any problems they find. The editor then uses the reviewer reports to decide whether to accept as is, reject outright or request revisions. If the decision is revise, the author then makes each change or tries to convince the editor that the reviewer is wrong. Peer review is not perfect and doesn't always catch bad research, but in most cases it improves the work, and science benefits. Traditionally, results weren't made public until after peer review, but that practice has weakened in recent years with the rise of preprints, reducing the reliability of information for nonscientists. I'm adding two norms to Merton's list. The first is integrity. It's so fundamental to good science that it almost seems unnecessary to mention. But I think it's justified since cheating, stealing and lazy scientists are getting plenty of attention these days. The second is humility. You may have made a contribution to our understanding of cell division, but don't tell us that you cured cancer. You may be a leader in quantum mechanics research, but that doesn't make you an authority on climate change. Scientific norms are guidelines for how scientists are expected to behave. A researcher who violates one of these norms won't be carted off to jail or fined an exorbitant fee. But when a norm is not followed, scientists must be prepared to justify their reasons, both to themselves and to others. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jeffrey A. Lee, Texas Tech University Read more: Science activism is surging – which marks a culture shift among scientists Rogue science strikes again: The case of the first gene-edited babies Intellectual humility is a key ingredient for scientific progress Jeffrey A. Lee does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
