Irreproducibility in Research. What can we do about it?

We all would agree with Karl Popper's statement: 'Non-reproducible single occurrences are of no significance to science.' But what if a substantial percentage of published scientific facts are of the irreproducible category? Such an alarming scenario may be close to reality, according to a number of recent reports. Indeed, some shocking statistics suggest that irreproducibility has gone awry in the last years. For instance, pharma and biotech companies can only reproduce between 11 and 25% high-impact research papers in the field of cancer research.

Metal substitution in blue copper proteins : chemical and structural properties of cobalt and nickel azurins = Sustitución metálica en proteínas azules de cobre : propiedades químicas y estructurales de las azurinas de níquel y cobalto

Chemistry and Biophysics. Conversation with Jesús Jiménez-Barbero

Chemistry and Biophysics need, and embrace, multidisciplinarity. They both look at problems from many different perspectives. However, while we should not hide behind the walls of disciplines, we cannot ambition to be experts on everything. "We are not in Leonardo's times. Collaboration is essential, as the way to reach far outside our own background knowledge". From his intense career dedicated biomolecular interactions, Jiménez-Barbero knows well how important it is for a chemist working close to spectroscopists, microbiologists, cell biologists. Multidisciplinarity should generate attraction and be inclusive. It should be a way to integrate knowledge and expertise from others disciplines…

Is Science at a 'critical point'?

The paradox, in this best-time-ever of Science, is that it is increasingly loosing reputation. The difficulties to develop a career in Science, well known by students, are demotivating many of the best to choose research as a profession. The publishing inflation is becoming difficult to handle by obsolete peer reviewing and inefficient evaluation systems, in turn facilitating fraud and increasing mistrust in Science. There are reasons to think that these negative perceptions may already be leaking into the Society. There should be a solution to these problems, and Science itself should be able to find it.