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Charles Piller

@charlespiller.bsky.social
795 followers 96 following 256 posts

Investigative reporter @sciencemagazine. Before: investigations for @statnews @sacbee_news @latimes. cpiller@charlespiller.com - Signal: cpiller.01 - Author of the book "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's"

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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
More Alzheimer's Research Trouble | Science | AAAS More Alzheimer's Research Trouble | Science | AAAS - Derek Lowe's thoughtful take on my latest investigation (with my colleague @jennieerinsmith.bsky.social ) www.science.org/content/blog... www.science.org/content/blog...
science.org
More Alzheimer's Research Trouble
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
“Magic or Realism?” Are recently discovered genetic variants that seem to protect against Alzheimer’s believable? My latest investigation – with @jennieerinsmith.bsky.social – takes a deep dive to answer. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Science investigation casts doubt on genes hailed for warding off Alzheimer’s disease
Mutations found in Colombian families raised hopes for treatments. Altered patient data and suspect images call their benefits into question
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
“Magic or Realism?” Are recently discovered genetic variants that seem to protect against Alzheimer’s believable? My latest investigation – with @jennieerinsmith.bsky.social – takes a deep dive to answer. www.science.org/content/arti...
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Final word on the collapse of institutional standards in the infamous Didier Raoult case? Great scholarship by @lonnibesancon.bsky.social @elisabethbik.bsky.social and colleagues link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Follow-up investigation of ethics approvals and regulatory compliance in publications from the IHU-Mi - Research Integrity and Peer Review
Background Following our previous investigation of 456 articles published by the IHU-Méditerranée Infection (IHU-Mi) institute in Marseille, France, subsequent editorial actions, institutional reviews...
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Reposted by Charles Piller
John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
16 months after a young girl died in a gene-editing trial, the study's entry in clinicaltrial. gov has finally been updated to acknowledge the death. The move comes after @science.org and @retractionwatch.com revealed the fatality 1/ science.org/content/arti...
clinicaltrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Exclusive: Death of girl in Chinese gene-editing trial was never made public | Science | AAAS -- amazing and important story via @retractionwatch.com reporter Brendan Borrell www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Exclusive: Death of girl in Chinese gene-editing trial was never made public
Parents want accountability after study went disastrously wrong, Science and Retraction Watch investigation reveals
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Illuminating story - A key Arctic science outpost finds itself tangled in a geopolitical web | Science | AAAS via Richard Stone www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
A key Arctic science outpost finds itself tangled in a geopolitical web
Svalbard is warming faster than almost anywhere on Earth, but security concerns are tightening access to its glaciers, fjords, and sea floor
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Glad to see that the litany of defects in the $13B SF-Oakland Bay Bridge have not been totally forgotten. Decent intro via MegaBuilds: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAr9... I spent years investigating those. They were ignored or never adequately fixed. Among many articles: www.sacbee.com/news/investi...
youtube.com
The Most Expensive Bridge in US History Is Quietly Falling Apart
YouTube video by MegaBuilds
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
U.S. researchers face new restrictions on publishing with foreign collaborators - sobering report by @jeffreybrainard.bsky.social | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
U.S. researchers face new restrictions on publishing with foreign collaborators
NIH, NASA grantees are confused and concerned amid agencies’ piecemeal communication
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
A conference taught me that scientists and journalists must work together to protect research - great insights from @lonnibesancon.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
A conference taught me that scientists and journalists must work together to protect research
Science sleuth Lonni Besançon realizes that he has sometimes misunderstood what the media want from him and his researcher colleagues.
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The Fight Over Antisemitism Studies - thoughtful, nuanced reporting by @stephaniemlee.bsky.social www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
chronicle.com
The Fight Over Antisemitism Studies
How money, fear, and October 7th forged a contentious new area of study.
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Medicare is spending far less than expected on new Alzheimer’s drugs www.statnews.com/2026/05/11/m... via @statnews.com @bobjherman.bsky.social
statnews.com
Medicare is spending far less than expected on new Alzheimer’s drugs
Adoption has been slow with new Alzheimer’s drugs because the treatments are complicated to administer and the benefits are uncertain.
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Thanks to Stephen J. Dubner, Dalvin Aboagye, and colleagues for having me on a great Freakonomics episode about Alzheimer's and my book Doctored. freakonomics.com/podcast/why-...
freakonomics.com
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
“Game-changer” breast cancer study retracted as Indiana researcher out of his post - findings by @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social retractionwatch.com/2026/04/15/g...
retractionwatch.com
“Game-changer” breast cancer study retracted as Indiana researcher out of his post
A group of cancer researchers whose work has been questioned by sleuths has been hit with their third retraction in less than a year.   Today, Science Translational Medicine (STM) withdre…
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
For readers in the UK and Commonwealth nations - Doctored is now out in paperback bit.ly/4clbKIL
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
A monumental head-scratcher: Why won't the journal just retract the study? Judge tosses lawsuit over controversial Paxil ‘Study 329’ retractionwatch.com/2026/04/02/j...
retractionwatch.com
Judge tosses lawsuit over controversial Paxil ‘Study 329’
A judge has dismissed a legal challenge aimed at forcing Elsevier to retract a long-criticized study that concluded the antidepressant Paxil was safe and effective for teens. The 2001 paper, publis…
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
If you’re in the Boston area, please join me on April 16 for my talk about the tragedy of fraudulent or false Alzheimer’s research – and the response to my book “Doctored.” Talk and reception sponsored by MIT Knight Science Journalism. ksj.mit.edu/event/lectur...
ksj.mit.edu
Lecture: Investigating Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in Alzheimer's Research A Talk and Discussion With Investigative Reporter Charles Piller - Knight Science Journalism @MIT
Join Charles Piller, a correspondent for Science and investigative reporter, as he discusses his book “Doctored,” an examination into how unscrupulous researchers, government enablers, and Pharma exec...
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Another paper supporting discredited Alzheimer’s research by Sylvain Lesné on amyloid-beta *56 is retracted – 4 years after it was detected (and the journal alerted) by Matthew Schrag – and verified by @elisabethbik.bsky.social shorturl.at/N0Xqg My investigation from 2022 shorturl.at/qe8Oe
shorturl.at
RETRACTED: Cognitive effects of cell-derived and synthetically derived Aβ oligomers
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).This article has …
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Judge upholds 15-year debarment against scientist who once threatened to sue Retraction Watch retractionwatch.com/2026/03/26/a...
retractionwatch.com
Judge upholds 15-year debarment against scientist who once threatened to sue Retraction Watch
iStock An appeals judge has recommended the U.S. Health and Human Services uphold a proposed 15-year debarment for a scientist accused of research misconduct more than a decade ago.  In a May …
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Fascinating look at efforts by a wealthy family to change the course of a deadly brain disease | Science | AAAS via @jennieerinsmith.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Can a wealthy family change the course of a deadly brain disease?
Inspired by the loss of their mother, they have poured millions into studying a key protein behind frontotemporal dementia. But all has not gone according to plan
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
I find it hard to be shocked by such admissions, but this one is pretty intense: A medical journal says the case reports it has published for 25 years are, in fact, fiction via @katetravis.bsky.social retractionwatch.com/2026/03/03/c...
retractionwatch.com
A medical journal says the case reports it has published for 25 years are, in fact, fiction
A Canadian journal has issued corrections on 138 case reports it published over the last 25 years to add a disclaimer: The cases described are fictional. Paediatrics & Child Health, the journal…
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Reposted by Charles Piller
Elisabeth Bik @elisabethbik.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
For more background, see @charlespiller.bsky.social 's reporting in Science here: www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
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Reposted by Charles Piller
Elisabeth Bik @elisabethbik.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Another #retraction for former National Institute on Aging division director Eliezer Masliah today. link.springer.com/article/10.1... pubpeer.com/publications... Combined work by @mumumouse2.bsky.social , @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social, Matthew Schrag, @charlespiller.bsky.social and me.
A collage of three problems highlighted on the relevant PubPeer thread. Each screenshot shows a figure from a scientific paper with photos of tissues (beige with brown cellular structures) and fluorescent cells (black background, green or red fluorescent structures). We have highlighted certain panels that overlap with boxes of the same color.
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
This glass wafer could back up your phone—and last 10,000 years - this might be what I've been waiting 20 years for! www.latimes.com/archives/la-... | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
This glass wafer could back up your phone—and last 10,000 years
Laser-written patterns on glass could store data for millennia at a time
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
More well-deserved honors for STAT - Polk Award for reporting on impact of Trump on health www.statnews.com/2026/02/18/s... via @statnews.com
statnews.com
STAT wins fourth Polk Award for reporting on impact of Trump on health
STAT has won its fourth Polk Award in five years for documenting the Trump administration’s shakeup of the FDA, scientific research, and public health.
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
UnEDXpected Peaks - New and fascinating data explorations from @elisabethbik.bsky.social scienceintegritydigest.com/2026/02/09/u...
scienceintegritydigest.com
UnEDXpected Peaks
Over the past couple of days, I have been reviewing a series of Materials Science papers, all co-authored by the same group of researchers from the Universities of Lahore, Chakwal, and Sargodha in …
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Thanks to the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing @sciencewriting.bsky.social for hosting me for a webinar on investigative reporting on science, with the great @lizagross.bsky.social Here's the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvxz...
youtube.com
CASW Connector Chat: Tips and Tools for Investigative Science Reporting
YouTube video by CASW ScienceWriting
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Court challenge could chill reporting of research fraud, say whistleblower attorneys retractionwatch.com/2026/02/11/f...
retractionwatch.com
Court challenge could chill reporting of research fraud, say whistleblower attorneys
utah778/iStock The U.S. government recently announced a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments in 2025, the most in a single year since the law’s enactment 163 years ago.…
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Controversial Danish vaccine research group faces new allegations | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Controversial Danish vaccine research group faces new allegations
Researchers say they couldn’t find complete data for 10 trials that together enrolled tens of thousands of children in Guinea-Bissau
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Inside the quest to make a safer football helmet | Science | - great pre-Superbowl examination by Adrian Cho - AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Inside the quest to make a safer football helmet
New energy-absorbing designs and materials have revolutionized the iconic safety device
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Thanks so much to Cassandra Quave for a great conversation on her podcast Foodie Pharmacology about my book “Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s” – now also out in paperback. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpf...
youtube.com
Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance and Tragedy in Alzheimer’s Research with Charles Piller
YouTube video by TeachEthnobotany
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Thanks to John R Miles for a great conversation about my book "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's" on his podcast Passion Struck passionstruck.com/charles-pill...
passionstruck.com
Alzheimer's Research Fraud: Charles Piller on Doctored
Investigative journalist Charles Piller exposes Alzheimer’s research fraud and the hidden misconduct that delayed cures and reshaped modern science.
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
New review of my book, "Doctored," which was just released in paperback, from a publication of the University of Toronto www.immpressmagazine.com/doctored-202...
immpressmagazine.com
Doctored (2025) by Charles Piller – IMMPress Magazine
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
To hear some of the reporting details and conclusions of my book, "Doctored," about misconduct in Alzheimer's research, please check out my new interview with Melanie Avalon. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Science journalists: Please join me in conversation with @lizagross.bsky.social on Jan 29 about deep dives into scientific research -- come with questions and ideas to share. Sponsored by @sciencewriting.bsky.social
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Reposted by Charles Piller
Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Nice piece in @science.org by @charlespiller.bsky.social on clinical trial firms: www.science.org/content/arti... (Warning—quotes me) Even gives me the last sentence: "Greely says..'Will you ever know [if trial results are being doctored]? Certainly not if you never look.'”
science.org
Alzheimer’s drug developers accuse clinical trial sites of faking data
T3D Therapeutics alleges that contract researchers delivered “medically impossible” results on its candidate drug
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Excited that a box of the paperback edition of my book, “Doctored” just arrived. On sale everywhere on Jan 13. www.simonandschuster.com/books/Doctor...
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Reposted by Charles Piller
Michael Greshko @michaelgreshko.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
🧪 EXCLUSIVE 🧪 from @science.org: Scientists have swabbed a 500-year-old drawing attributed to Leonardo da Vinci—and may have found a piece of his DNA. www.science.org/content/arti... Yes, really. A quick thread:
science.org
Exclusive: Have scientists found Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA?
Inside the decadeslong quest to reveal the genes of a genius—and revolutionize art authentication
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
My latest story: Alzheimer’s drug developers accuse clinical trial sites of faking data | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Alzheimer’s drug developers accuse clinical trial sites of faking data
T3D Therapeutics alleges that contract researchers delivered
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Reposted by Charles Piller
Cheshire @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Another Masliah retraction. pubpeer.com/publications... cc: @mumumouse2.bsky.social @elisabethbik.bsky.social @charlespiller.bsky.social and Matthew Schrag.
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
2025: In which Retraction Watch turned 15, and The Center For Scientific Integrity really became a center retractionwatch.com/2025/12/30/c...
retractionwatch.com
Cheers to 2025: In which Retraction Watch turned 15, and The Center For Scientific Integrity really became a center
We always enjoy our annual review of the year at Retraction Watch, and 2025 is no exception. But we’re more excited about what lies ahead than what we already accomplished.  We’re on track for…
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Opinion | Reflecting on yet another year of scientific fraud at the University of Minnesota via @carlelliott.bsky.social "Deny wrongdoing, stonewall reporters, punish dissenters and wait for it all to blow over." www.startribune.com/umn-professo...
startribune.com
Opinion | Reflecting on yet another year of scientific fraud at the University of Minnesota
Allegations a scientist doctored images in a paper on Alzheimer’s. Rachel Hardeman's resignation. An investigation into a pediatrician's reports of child abuse. The U saw a number of scientific scanda...
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
My book “Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s” www.simonandschuster.com/books/Doctor... picked by NY Post among best of 2025. Paperback out 1/13. I’m honored to be among the illustrious authors on their list. nypost.com/2025/12/27/e...
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Reposted by Charles Piller
Cheshire @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Another Lesné paper retracted 4 years after I first flagged some concerns. Thanks to all who helped on this project: @elisabethbik.bsky.social @mumumouse2.bsky.social @charlespiller.bsky.social, Matthew Schrag, and other anons. pubpeer.com/publications...
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
The Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker now has 400 entries retractionwatch.com/2025/12/26/r...
retractionwatch.com
The Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker now has 400 entries
Sham journals that mimic real ones can fool unsuspecting authors who are submitting a manuscript, researchers looking for references for papers — and even indexing services aiming to be comprehensi…
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
My book "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's" www.simonandschuster.com/books/Doctor... tops @thetransmitter.bsky.social most-read excerpt list for 2025. www.thetransmitter.org/books/the-tr...
simonandschuster.com
Doctored
An Economist Best Book of 2025 So Far For readers of Empire of Pain and Dopesick, a “gripping story of medical groupthink and warped incentives” (T...
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Finally! Another key paper by Sylvain Lesné re purported key Alzheimer’s-related protein amyloid-beta *56 is retracted. Validates findings by @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social @elisabethbik.bsky.social Matthew Schrag et al www.science.org/doi/full/10.... my original story: www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
In a disturbing, chilling move, U.S. senator asks Science (including Science journalists) to provide its coronavirus manuscripts, emails | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
U.S. senator asks Science to provide its coronavirus manuscripts, emails
Rand Paul has blasted government science officials and scientists over COVID-19’s origin
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
ORI has released just two misconduct findings this year - Shocking but not surprising. via @katetravis.bsky.social retractionwatch.com/2025/12/18/o...
retractionwatch.com
ORI has released just two misconduct findings this year
The U.S. Office of Research Integrity has been relatively quiet in 2025, releasing just two misconduct findings with only two weeks remaining in the year — the fewest the office has released since …
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Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Illuminating reporting and analysis in @science.org breakthrough of the year package. Don't miss the photo essay. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Science’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year: The unstoppable rise of renewable energy
Clean energy infrastructure is being deployed with unmatched scale and speed—and China is leading the way
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