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RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

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Re: RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

#2
What I hate is there is an issue with the way big academic research is done. Anyone involved has to have seen at the very least cherry-picking all the way to outright fraud. Has been for probably 30 years.

However this is not the way to go about fixing it

Re: RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

#5
After three decades in academia, I've seen firsthand how systemic issues plague research integrity - from selective data presentation to outright fabrication. While these problems absolutely need addressing, this current approach misses the mark entirely. We require measured, structural reforms rather than reactionary measures that risk throwing out legitimate science with the bad.

Re: RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

#6
While I do agree that there are some academic journals that publish studies that are probably a bit suspicious, given there has been proof of enough high profile researchers publishing using false or fabricated data, though I'm not sure about this particular one to be fair - I do not like the against science as a whole messaging.

This administration is pushing anti-science as a whole which is going to do irreparable harm to all well meaning scientists and those interested in these fields as a whole. And in the end the ones suffering will be us for years to come as we will have effectively stifled innovation, especially when it comes to health.

Re: RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

#7

What I hate is there is an issue with the way big academic research is done. Anyone involved has to have seen at the very least cherry-picking all the way to outright fraud. Has been for probably 30 years. However this is not the way to go about fixing it

This is classic playbook for this administration. Is air force one out of date, is replacing it a boondoggle? Yes and yes! Should we take a garish bug ridden pile of expense second hand from foreign sources? No! Does America somewhat subsidize the 'free world' with its military spending and asymmetric dollar? Sure, yeah. Should we fucking tank the economy and ruin our standing with every ally to address it? Probably not!

This pattern is pretty common when you look for it.

Re: RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

#8
RFK's move (if true) is cheap political symbolism. It's not science. It's BS.

But that's not today's question.

Where is power, agency, missing for the RFK's of the world? Call that X. Ideally RFK would telescope symbolism there.

Presumably he forgot X, isn't invited to X, can't win with X, or can't reason with X.

As a result nature and science/policy based human health is temporarily buggered by same.

Re: RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

#9

While I do agree that there are some academic journals that publish studies that are probably a bit suspicious, given there has been proof of enough high profile researchers publishing using false or fabricated data, though I'm not sure about this particular one to be fair - I do not like the against science as a whole messaging. This administration is pushing anti-science as a whole which is going to do irreparable…

I don’t see where it’s “science as a whole” but rather names specific (narrow) set of journals to cancel subscriptions because they are funded by big pharma or are too expensive. Seems more reasonable than your comment purports

I recall reading about journal’s positive bias to only publish positive results of pharmaceutical drugs, but would not publish negative results in later years (when another researcher disproves it). This is bad science and bad for patients. This in addition to the downright fraud.

I’m not a fan of this secretary’s approaches, but I’ve been hoping for 10 years someone would take a stand against predatory journal practices

Re: RFK Jr.'s health department calls Nature "junk science," cancels subscriptions

#10

What I hate is there is an issue with the way big academic research is done. Anyone involved has to have seen at the very least cherry-picking all the way to outright fraud. Has been for probably 30 years. However this is not the way to go about fixing it

The solution is stronger pre-registration requirements, open data mandates, and funding replication studies - not politically-motivated journal cancellations that cut researchers off from the very information needed to advance knowledge.
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