Fraud, AI slop and huge profits: is science publishing broken?

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Scientists are warning that academic publishing needs urgent reform in order to retain trust in the research system. Ian Sample tells Madeleine Finlay what has gone so wrong, and Dr Mark Hanson of the University of Exeter proposes some potential solutions. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
2 Oct English United Kingdom Science · Nature

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