Privatizing Peer Review — The PubCred Proposal
When authors are unwilling to peer review and incentives are not enough, is it time to privatize the system?
Sounding the Revolution
How do we gain a better vantage amidst the dust and din of an ongoing information revolution the likes of which the world has never seen before?
The Editorial Fallacy
In a disruptive publishing environment, publishers cannot rely on a purely editorial strategy, as many of the issues now facing them are not editorial in nature.
Let the Adaptations Begin!
The infrastructure for change is in place and largely working. What might that mean for publishing and academic cultures? (The first of a four-part series.)
Environmental Degradation Captured on Film — via the Rainbows Near the Earth’s Surface
Rainbows are much more common in near-ground sprinklers than they were 20 years ago. Or so asserts the infamous “Rainbow Lady.”
Taxes Clash with Free Speech in the Philadelphia Blogosphere
Philadelphia extends local small business fees to bloggers making money, arguing they are just like anyone else trying to make money in the city. But given the free speech element, they aren’t “just like anyone else.”
Penn & Teller on the Vaccines and Autism Debate: A Model of Great Science Communication
The now completely discredited vaccines and autism linkage is tackled here in inimitable and definitive style by two guys who really know how to stage a story simply and effectively.
The Noble Plastic Bag — A Naturalist’s View
Brutal and compelling, the lifecycle of the plastic bag is beautifully captured in this short film.
Ending the Supplemental Data “Arms Race”
Supplemental data undermine scientific integrity by undermining the peer review process.
Want a Solution to Bad Traffic? Turn Off the Traffic Signals
A town in the UK abandons traffic lights, to surprising effect.
The Mismeasure of Man, Funds, and Open Access Experiments
After one year, most COPE funds remain unspent. Is it time to revise the policy?
Letting The Inmates Run the Asylum: Are Blogging Networks Compatible with Publishing Business Plans?
Open blogging networks may be impossible to commercialize, for a host of reasons.
Badminton, the Rant — “They’re Dropping Off Their Kids, They’re Leaving Skid Marks!”
In this clip, a mother (and sportscaster) recounts the devastating game of badminton and its effects on her life.
Left-handed Cancer, Box Springs, Scientific American, Branding, and Credibility
When brands, credibility, and trust all stumble, what is an increasingly weary public supposed to think?
“The Reinvention of Journalism” — Just Code for “Reinvention of the Status Quo”?
The US Federal Trade Commission and Google spar openly over the future of journalism. Guess which one comes out looking more modern?