Fraud claim leads Mayo Clinic to retract cancer research
(postbulletin.com): Accusations of scientific fraud by a researcher is driving Mayo Clinic to retract findings from almost eight years of research on an antibody after firing the scientist at the heart of the controversy. Mayo launched an investigation of research by Suresh Radhakrishnan of an antibody molecule with possible cancer-fighting… Read More
Apple Passes Microsoft: A Geek is Vindicated
(thetakeaway.org): Apple's recent Midas-touch for products has provided years of glowing headlines and a tech journalism industry that breathlessly chases the smallest clues about what the company will do next. But back in 1997, Microsoft was worth $147 billion to Apple's $2.3 billion, and speculation had run rampant for years… Read More
Government and research policy in the UK: an introduction
(rin.ac.uk): The Research Information Network just published a new guide (PDF; 20 pages) which describes the nature, roles and responsibilities of the different Government bodies involved in research policy and funding, and the relationships between them. Government in the UK involves a complex array of bodies with responsibilities for developing… Read More
Libraries Have a Novel Idea
(online.wsj.com): Libraries are expanding e-book offerings with out-of-print editions, part of a broader effort to expand borrowing privileges in the Internet Age that could challenge traditional ideas about copyright. A group of libraries led by the Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital library, are joining forces to create a one-stop website… Read More
Canadian University Hopes to Lead Fight Against High Subscription
(iwr.co.uk): The government programme for public libraries will be led by the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council and the Local Government Association, It aims at supporting local councils to deliver key services while reducing costs. The programme will initially work with around ten library authorities, and then lessons learned will… Read More
CILIP welcomes government’s support programme for public libraries
(news.scotsman.com): Flicking through well-thumbed and yellowing paperbacks could soon be a thing of the past as Edinburgh libraries prepare to roll out their first electronic lending scheme. With so-called eBooks becoming more popular, the city's libraries will soon be offering a wide range of books to download for a short… Read More
Doctors Warn Against Relying Too Much On Google
(searchengineland.com): Chances are good that you’ve searched for health-related information via Google, Yahoo, Bing, or some of the other health-specific portals. Both Google and Bing continue to expand the amount — and quality — of content they show in response to our health searches. But, based on a recent study,… Read More
China’s digital publishing coming of age
(en.ce.cn): In 2009, the total output value of the digital publishing industry in China reached RMB79.5 billion yuan, exceeding that of the traditional publications for the first time. Experts estimated that, the total output value of the digital publishing industry in 2010 would be over RMB100 billion yuan. The rapid… Read More
Confirmation bias in science: how to avoid it
(arstechnica.com): One of the most common arguments against a scientific finding is confirmation bias: the scientist or scientists only look for data that confirms a desired conclusion. Confirmation bias is remarkably common—it is used by psychics, mediums, mentalists, and homeopaths, just to name a few. Read More
How do new-fangled digital and old-fashioned print books measure up against green criteria?
(gmagazine.com.au): In this digital age we're becoming more and more used to downloading than handling hard copies. CDs have almost gone the way of vinyl records thanks to the growing thirst for digital music, and legal movie downloads are becoming increasingly popular. More recently, e-books have emerged as a viable… Read More
