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Impact Factor, Citations - Can Science Be Saved From Itself?

Impact Factor, Citations - Can Science Be Saved From Itself?

Aug 30 2015 | comment(s)


Not many people would know the peculiar vocabulary used to evaluate scientists.

‘H index’, ‘impact factor’ and ‘citation number’ are some of the snazzy phrases that are now ubiquitous in the world of science. Not all scientific papers are born equal - some are ground-breaking, while most are an incremental advance – and these scales have been developed to help determine the ‘impact’ of the scientific articles that are published.

Do We Need A Law To Help People Try Experimental Drugs?

Do We Need A Law To Help People Try Experimental Drugs?

Aug 30 2015 | comment(s)


People with life-threatening or incurable diseases may be willing to try experimental drugs and unproven treatments. Credit: juicyrai/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

By Tina Cockburn, Queensland University of Technology and Bill Madden, Queensland University of Technology

Fabricating And Plagiarizing: When Researchers Lie

Fabricating And Plagiarizing: When Researchers Lie

Aug 30 2015 | comment(s)


Research undertaken on beagles and the contraceptive pill in the 1970s was found to be fabricated - there never were any beagles. Flickr/Understanding Animal Research, CC BY-SA

By Mark Israel, University of Western Australia

There are a few things you might need for an experiment involving beagles and the side effects of contraceptive pills. Animal research ethics aside, beagles might be a good start.

Is That A Harmless Mole Or Potential Skin Cancer?

Is That A Harmless Mole Or Potential Skin Cancer?

Aug 30 2015 | comment(s)



If you're at high risk of skin cancer, check your skin regularly. Roman Königshofer/Flickr, CC BY-ND

By H. Peter Soyer, The University of Queensland and Anna Finnane, The University of Queensland

Too Little Is Known About Probiotics To Say They Work

Too Little Is Known About Probiotics To Say They Work

Aug 30 2015 | comment(s)


We don't actually know whether probiotics have a measurable impact on digestive health - and if it is positive. brownpau/Flickr, CC BY-SA

By Paul Bertrand, RMIT University; Andrew Ball, RMIT University, and Kate Polglaze, RMIT University

The Real Science On Wind Farm Impact: Noise, Infrasound And Health

The Real Science On Wind Farm Impact: Noise, Infrasound And Health

Aug 30 2015 | comment(s)

In a radio interview , Prime Minister Tony Abbott raised what he described as the “potential health impacts” of wind farms.