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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Fraudulent scientific papers are booming
SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS exist to do one thing: provide accurate, peer-reviewed reports of new research to an interested audience. But according to a paper published in PNAS on August 4th, that lofty goal is badly compromised. Scientific fraud, its authors conclude, happens on a massive scale and is growing quickly. In fact, though the number of scientific articles doubles every 15 years or so, the number thought to be fraudulent is doubling every 1.5 years (see chart). It has long been clear that publication fraud rarely comes from lone fraudsters. Instead, companies known as paper mills prepare fake scientific papers full of made-up experiments and bogus data, often with the help of artificial-intelligence (AI) models, and sell authorship to academics looking to boost their publication numbers. But the analysis conducted by Dr Amaral and his colleagues suggests that some journal editors may be knowingly waving these papers through. Their article suggests that a subset of journal editors are responsible for the majority of questionable papers their publications produce. To arrive at their conclusion, the authors looked at papers published by PLOS ONE , an enormous and generally well-regarded journal that identifies which of their 18,329 editors is responsible for each paper. (Most editors are academics who agree to oversee peer review alongside their research.) Since 2006 the journal has published 276,956 articles, 702 of which have been retracted and 2,241 of which have received comments on PubPeer, a site that allows other academics and online sleuths to raise concerns. When the team crunched the data, they found 45 editors who facilitated the acceptance of retracted or flagged articles much more frequently than would be expected by chance. Although they were responsible for the peer-review process of only 1.3% of PLOS ONE submissions, they were responsible for 30.2% of retracted articles. The data suggested yet more worrying patterns. For one thing, more than half of these editors were themselves authors of papers later retracted by PLOS ONE . What's more, when they submitted their own papers to the journal, they regularly suggested each other as editors. Although papers can be retracted for many causes, including honest mistakes, Dr Amaral believes these patterns indicate a network of editors co-operating to bypass the journal's usual standards. Dr Amaral does not name the editors in his article, butNature, a science magazine, subsequently made use of his analysis to track down five of the relevant editors. PLOS ONE says that all five were investigated and dismissed between 2020 and 2022. Those who responded toNature's enquiries denied wrongdoing. Compelling as Dr Amaral's analysis is, it does not conclusively prove dishonest behaviour. All the same, the findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting some editors play an active role in the publication of substandard research. An investigation in 2024 by RetractionWatch, an organisation that monitors retracted papers, and Science, another magazine, found that paper mills have bribed editors in the past. Editors might also use their powers to further their own academic careers. Sleuths on PubPeer have flagged papers in several journals which seem to be co-written by either the editor overseeing the peer review or one of their close collaborators—a clear conflict of interest. Detecting networks of editors the way Dr Amaral's team has 'is completely new', says Alberto Ruano Raviña of the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, who researches scientific fraud and was not involved with the study. He is particularly worried about fake papers remaining part of the scientific record in medical fields, where their spurious findings might be used to conduct reviews that inform clinical guidelines. A recent paper in the BMJ , a medical journal, found that 8-16% of the conclusions in systematic reviews that included later-retracted evidence ended up being wrong. 'This is a real problem,' says Dr Ruano Raviña. Yet the incentives for fraud continue to outweigh the consequences. Measures including a researcher's number of publications and citations have become powerful proxies for academic achievement, and are seen as necessary for building a career. 'We have become focused on numbers,' says Dr Amaral. This is sometimes made explicit: staff at Indian medical collegesare required to publisha certain number of papersin order to progress. Some journals, for their part, make more money the more articles they accept. Breaking either trend will take time. In the meantime, publishers are rolling out new screening tools for suspicious content, including some which spot 'tortured phrases'—nonsensical plagiarism-evading paraphrases generated by AI models such as 'colossal information' instead of 'big data'—or citations in the wrong places. There is also increasing pressure on publishers to root out bad papers. Databases of reputable journals, such as Scopus or Web of Science, can 'de-list' journals, ruining their reputations. It's up to the publishers to bring about a relisting, which means tidying up the journal. 'If we see untrustworthy content that you're not retracting, you're not getting back in,' says Nandita Quaderi, editor-in-chief of Web of Science. But whether publishers and the many editors who work hard to keep bad science out of their journals can keep up with the paper mills remains to be seen.
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Dog Learns To Open Door, Owner Can't Believe Who's Also Sat on Front Porch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Labrador retriever from North Carolina recently went viral after his owners revealed his latest trick, opening the front door to let himself out; however, they had no idea who was hanging out in the porch with him. In a viral TikTok video shared on Friday under the username @uruguayanprincesss, the dog's owner can be seen walking outside their front door, to find the pup chilling in the porch with their black cat sat on the cushioned chair, keeping his canine sibling company. "My dog has learned to open the door, so now he lets himself and the cat out every morning and they do this," reads layover text in the clip. The caption says: "I aspire to be this level of unbothered." Many pet owners believe that they have to choose between a cat and a dog, but studies show that the two can actually live comfortably with each other, and may even become friends, like the pair in the clip. A 2020 study by Italian scientists, published in the journal PLOS ONE, surveyed 1,270 pet owners who own both a cat and a dog, and found that the two can easily cohabit without much conflict. Findings from the study showed that over 64 percent of the cats and dogs living together also played together; 58 percent chased each other; and 41 percent fought. Almost two-thirds of the pets sometimes playfully "ambushed" each other. While most dogs can be trained to live with cats, some dog breeds are more suited for life with a feline than others. Burns Court Veterinary Care says that, because of their friendly manners, dogs such as Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and beagles are the breeds that get along best with felines. Cat breeds that are most likely to accept dogs into their life include Maine coons, rag dolls, and Siamese. Stock image: A black Labrador retriever stands outside a house. Stock image: A black Labrador retriever stands outside a house. getty images The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 1.6 million views and more than 460,000 likes on the platform. One user, Jussstcassie, commented: "I love that they have no desire to run away they just wanna sit on the porch in the sun." Rachel said: "When my black cat learned to open doors, he would go to neighbors houses and walk right in if their door wasn't locked." Erick Madrigal added: "I wish I could trust my dog to do this but he barks and straight lines anything that moves." Newsweek reached out to @uruguayanprincesss for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Hearts Break As Cat Realizes 'Daddy' Isn't Coming Home
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When Claire, 28, ended a long-term relationship, she expected to feel heartbreak. But what she wasn't ready for was her cat's reaction. In a video that has gained over 3.9 million views on Instagram, Ginger the orange tabby has broken hearts with his concerned pacing and searching. Lingering by the front door and gazing out, waiting for someone familiar to return, the caption explained: "He doesn't understand that his daddy isn't coming back." Ginger's "dad" was Claire's former partner. Since the breakup, the cat has been clinging more than usual, sitting by the door each evening after dinner, something she said he has never done before. "It has only been a month since we broke up," Claire, who didn't give a surname, told Newsweek. "Ginger has been extra clingy and had been sitting by the door every night after dinner. Which he has never done before." The heartbreak has added to Claire's own feelings, not only working through the breakup, but also struggling to see her pet in pain. Pictures of Ginger the cat, who is missing his owner's ex-boyfriend. Pictures of Ginger the cat, who is missing his owner's ex-boyfriend. @clairejia23/Instagram Do Cats Feel Grief? Although cats have long been typecast as independent and emotionally detached, research paints a more complex picture. In 2020, a study published in the journal PLOS ONE surveyed 130 cat owners via questionnaire, asking them about how their pets react to separation from humans. Researchers found that cats were clearly feeling the pain of being away from their favorite humans. Those suffering with separation-related anxiety exhibited destructive behavior (67 percent), excessive vocalization (63 percent), inappropriate urination (60 percent), depression/apathy (53 percent). While another 2017 study examined how cats respond to being left alone and reunited with humans. Cats were left alone for 30 minutes and then four hours in their own homes. While during separation, behavior didn't differ, but on reunion after four hours, cats purred and stretched significantly more. Researchers said this proves that cats have missed their owners while they were gone. As more people viewed the video of Ginger calling for his "dad," they shared their thoughts in the comments. Instagram user camyfrg shared a similar experience: "I went through this seven years ago, she was rushing to the door every time the elevator was around or when there was a noise on the floor. I was so angry against him for making her feel that way. And now she has the best cat dad ever, it'll get better." While said: "This happened when my ex and I broke up. Our youngest was most attached to him and cried every night looking for him." For now, Claire is looking toward the future. "My hopes are me and my two cats can find a safe and stable home," she said. "And I hope they continue to be happy and cuddly babies."
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
It's World Emoji Day: Science suggests using these tiny symbols makes you more likable
Get ready to sprinkle a few extra "zany faces" 🤪 and "fist bump" 👊 symbols into your texts -- today is World Emoji Day 🎉🎈🫶. World Emoji Day started in 2014. It's celebrated every year on July 17 because that's the date shown on the calendar emoji 📅. It's a day that celebrates how emoji help people express themselves in a quick, creative way. Emoji were invented in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita, a Japanese designer who wanted a fun and simple way to add emotion to digital messages. His original set had just 176 emoji, and they quickly caught on in Japan before spreading around the world. As of September 2024, the Unicode Standard includes 3,790 emoji. This count includes all solo emoji, skin tone and gender variants, flags, and combined sequences. And new emoji are on the way. A draft list of 164 emoji candidates is set for approval by the Unicode Consortium in September 2025, which could bring the total to 3,954 emoji once officially released. Some of the proposed icons include a leafless tree, a face with bags under the eyes, and a harp. Emoji are more than just a pretty face 💄🪞. They help add tone, emotion and personality to digital messages. A recent PLOS ONE study suggests that using emoji can make you seem more friendly and likable. People who added emoji in their texts were perceived as more responsive, which increased feelings of closeness, relationship satisfaction and likability compared to text-only messages. "The reason we have emoji is that words alone don't really convey the emotional meaning or content of what we're trying to express," Dr. Helen Riess, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founder of Empathetics in Boston, told ABC News. "In digital texting, all of that is missing, and so there's just so much opportunity for misunderstandings." Emoji are getting smarter and more expressive too. Tech companies are experimenting with 3D and animated emoji -- see Apple's "Animoji" and Telegram's interactive emoji effects -- to bring more emotion and movement into messages. Scientists are also exploring how emoji can play a role in dialing down the temperature of online discourse and encouraging more respectful communication. For example, Google's Perspective API flags toxic language in real time and can suggest using emoji to soften the tone.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Walking at THIS pace could keep older adults fit
Walking is good for older adults. A new study from the University of Chicago Medicine says walking pace is important. Walking slightly faster helps older adults stay fit. Researchers suggest adding 14 steps per minute. This improves physical function and delays frailty. They also created a smartphone app to measure walking pace. Walking is the simplest form of exercise that you can add to your routine and reap incredible health benefits. As one ages, staying active becomes more than just a lifestyle choice - it's a necessity for maintaining strength, balance, and overall well-being. This is where walking plays a crucial role. Well, walking at the right pace matters. A new study suggests that the pace of walking has paramount importance when it comes to keeping older adults fit. The study, led by researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine, found that older adults who walk just a little faster than usual may experience significant improvements in physical health, potentially delaying the onset of frailty and preserving independence. The findings are published in PLOS ONE . Frailty and walking Frailty is a medically defined condition in older adults that increases vulnerability to everyday stresses, leading to a higher risk of falls, hospitalization, and loss of independence. The warning signs of frailty include: Unintentional weight loss Moving slowly Feeling weak Persistent tiredness Low levels of physical activity Most of these signs are linked to how active someone is. There is no debate that walking is an effective way to help older adults improve their overall health and quality of life and maintain independence for longer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo However, most often they don't know how fast to walk to get these benefits. Usually, a 'talk test' is used as a guide to measure walking intensity, where people should be able to talk comfortably, but have difficulty singing. This method, however, is subjective and may not be used consistently. This is where the recent study is significant, Walking pace matters The researchers found that walking slightly faster can help older adults stay fit. They suggested adding 14 steps to the usual person's pace in a minute. This slight acceleration improved physical function among older adults who were frail or at risk of becoming frail. In a second study, the researchers developed and tested a smartphone app designed to accurately measure walking pace, making it easier to integrate this beneficial practice into daily life. Why study walking pace? The researchers measured their pace according to the walking cadence, which is the number of steps taken per minute. It is an intuitive and pragmatic way to measure walking intensity. 'Older adults have a high risk of complications associated with surgery. Traditionally, surgical teams have relied on physical function questionnaires to risk-stratify patients, but I thought there must be a way to develop more objective metrics,' Daniel Rubin, MD, an anesthesiologist at UChicago Medicine, said in a statement. Walking faster is healthier The researchers studied older adults classified as frail or prefrail in the secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. The participants, older adults living in retirement communities, were enrolled in structured walking programs. The cadence was measured by a device fitted to their thigh. One group of participants were encouraged to walk 'as fast as safely possible,' while another group walked at their usual comfortable pace. The findings The study found that people who increased their cadence by at least 14 steps per minute above their usual pace (to roughly 100 steps per minute) experienced substantial improvements in their functional capacity, demonstrated by their ability to walk longer distances in a standardized test. 'People who haven't experienced frailty can't imagine how big a difference it makes to be able to not get tired going to the grocery store or not need to sit down while they're out,' Rubin said. From right shoes to warming up right: 5 safety rules to follow while walking An intuitive walking app Based on these findings, Rubin's team created a smartphone app to measure walking cadence accurately. "We didn't necessarily trust smartphones' built-in analytics. Instead, we built an app that uses a novel open-source method to analyze the data measured by the phone and lets us actively engage users in brief, deliberate walking tests, ensuring accurate measurement,' Rubin said. 'We wanted to make it as low-barrier as possible so it's easy for older adults to use without additional equipment. The people who need the most help are usually the least well-equipped to get started,' he added. Expert opinion The researchers stressed the numerous health benefits of walking. "Even casual walking had positive effects on our study participants," Rubin said. He also added that those who can increase their walking pace should, as it can yield even greater results. It is a simple yet effective strategy for people who want to stay healthier and more independent as they age.
