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Some publishers say they are battling industrialized cheating. A Nature analysis examines the 'paper mill' problem — and how editors are trying to cope. Some publishers say they are battling industrialized cheating. A Nature analysis examines the 'paper mill' problem — and how editors are trying to cope.

Elisabeth Bik quit her job to spot errors in research papers — and has become the public face of image sleuthing. Elisabeth Bik quit her job to spot errors in research papers — and has become the public face of image sleuthing.

Catalogue of billions of phrases from 107 million papers could ease computerized searching of the literature. Catalogue of billions of phrases from 107 million papers could ease computerized searching of the literature.

As co-signatories on a consensus statement released this week (see B. Morton et al. Anaesthesia doi: 10.1111/anae.15597; 2021), we call upon all scientific journals to adopt a similar system to promote fairness in author contribution assessments for research conducted in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs) by teams that include author(s) from institutions in high-income countries (HICs).\ud \ud The system consists of a structured reflexivity statement that asks authors to answer a series of open-ended questions that broadly follow established authorship criteria (see www.icmje.org). These help to ensure that LMIC researchers and other disadvantaged groups such as women and early-career researchers are properly represented.\ud \ud Progress in addressing such imbalances has been slow (A. I. Obasi Lancet 396, 651-653; 2020 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31536-1). For example, a fifth of papers on COVID-19 in Africa contain no African authors and, among those that do, HIC authors almost always occupy the coveted first and last positions (A. V. Naidoo et al. Br. Med. J. Glob Health 6, doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004612; 2021).\ud \ud Such reflexivity statements will encourage inclusive and open discussion of issues affecting equity, including capacity strengthening and research legacy in host countries.

Eight major publishers have issued joint guidelines for how journal editors can spot and deal with suspicious images or data. Eight major publishers have issued joint guidelines for how journal editors can spot and deal with suspicious images or data.

As part of a misconduct crackdown, Chinese funders are penalizing researchers who commission sham journal articles from ‘paper mills’, but some say the measures still don’t go far enough. As part of a misconduct crackdown, Chinese funders are penalizing researchers who commission sham journal articles from ‘paper mills’, but some say the measures still don’t go far enough.

Productivity coaches, boot camps and online meet-ups teach researchers to avoid distractions and negative thoughts to get their writing projects done. Productivity coaches, boot camps and online meet-ups teach researchers to avoid distractions and negative thoughts to get their writing projects done.

Some researchers have their manuscripts screened for errors before they go to journals. Some researchers have their manuscripts screened for errors before they go to journals.

Measures to crack down harder on falsified work look good on paper, but critics say that enforcement will continue to be a problem. Measures to crack down harder on falsified work look good on paper, but critics say that enforcement will continue to be a problem.

A scientific editor’s tips for writing titles and abstracts to boost the readership of your manuscripts. A scientific editor’s tips for writing titles and abstracts to boost the readership of your manuscripts.

Hundreds of junk-science papers have been retracted from reputable journals after fraudsters used ‘special issues’ to manipulate the publication process. And the problem is growing. Hundreds of junk-science papers have been retracted from reputable journals after fraudsters used ‘special issues’ to manipulate the publication process. And the problem is growing.

Industry group aims to agree shared standards for software able to detect issues during peer review. Industry group aims to agree shared standards for software able to detect issues during peer review.

You can bounce back by counting your blessings, listing your strengths and celebrating your achievements, says Lucy Taylor. You can bounce back by counting your blessings, listing your strengths and celebrating your achievements, says Lucy Taylor.