Research

Viruses are much more predictable than governments, summit hears

Back-to-back publication reinforces findings, and preprints could facilitate it. So why are journals still so wary of it, asks Josh Hardy 

There is still much controversy about whether the virus that causes Covid-19 was released from a laboratory. David Sanders considers the nature of ‘gain-of-function’ research, what it can teach us – and the safeguards we need to put in place

Scholars say that the new institute, whose remit describes the genocide as ‘baseless’, will lack credibility

THE forum hears Manchester v-c spotlight social sciences and humanities, plus universities’ local roles, in vision for post-pandemic future

Creation of a new international society dedicated to boredom studies suggests the subject is thriving, says founder

With social distancing scuppering traditional fieldwork, social scientists were forced to adapt their research methods. Jack Grove finds out how they managed

Senior scientists say severe shortage of junior scientists from European Union threatens quality of UK research

After FBI admissions in Tennessee case, Arizona-led survey aims to see how badly US was hurt by Trump enforcement

Chemistry laureate George Smith argues a publicly funded system would more than pay for itself by ending monopoly pricing in pharmaceuticals

Science and Technology Committee says Sir Andrew Mackenzie must improve knowledge of research issues and avoid potential conflicts of interest

Academics bemoan softly-softly reforms to ‘fundamentally broken system’

NIH data hint at the extent of bullying and emotional abuse, but barriers to tackling the issue remain high, says Joanna Buscemi

New European Research Council president has proven record of innovation and leadership, says European Commission lead for science

Performance can help explore academic questions, say advocates, but the field still lacks full acceptance in the corridors of power and policymaking

Funding is declining but business school research is as vital as science to post-pandemic economic recovery, says Zahir Irani

Universities come under pressure to investigate scholars’ ties

Boris Johnson’s new ministerial council has revived discussion over who controls science spending and whether industrial strategy requires government to start ‘picking winners’

Grand challenges won’t be solved unless disciplinary research data are opened up to all, says Nathan Cunningham

Federal prosecutor alleges that ‘Ilnur N’ passed on university information to Russian intelligence services in return for cash

Wider take-up by academics requires both relevance to specific disciplines and accessibility across disciplines, says Camille Kandiko Howson

Registered reports model produces better outcomes on all 19 criteria covering novelty, rigour, and importance

Academics need to think far more carefully about how they define and police the boundaries between legitimate and illegitimate knowledge, argues Michael D. Gordin

Ex-BHP chief executive and current Shell chair defends himself as ‘committed to net zero’ in pre-appointment hearing

Problem threatens to delay recovery after losses in grant support and obstacles for young scientists

Expert applauds new measures to boost ERA’s rigour and transparency, but questions ‘softly, softly’ approach

Boris Johnson will head new expert panel, with Sir Patrick Vallance leading Downing Street science unit

Still much to be said for old-fashioned media that operate ‘at the speed of human thinking’, book suggests

Polish professor warns of increasing ‘tension’ between national research funding and global science

Jury can’t agree on Tennessee associate professor Anming Hu after FBI admits pressure campaign to get him to spy

Data suggest research articles from commercial firms took a tumble in 2020 as academia boosted its output  

Proliferation of preprints in Covid era has led non-profit publisher to post reviews from clinicians on online papers

Rating scale for Excellence in Research for Australia to be recalibrated, with Indigenous studies incorporated as a field in its own right

Report from Clarivate also raises fundamental questions about how disciplinary priorities are shaped  

Recent examples explore everything from radical vaudeville to the legacy of slavery

Your new manager likely doesn’t have a PhD, and she’s higher on the food chain because experience is more valued than a doctorate, says Janelle Ward

Obstacles to finalising association agreements for EU’s research programme now removed, say continental observers

Universities offer many rewarding technical careers – but local populations are often oblivious of them, says Mike Hughes

Recent cuts and scares have cast doubt on ministers’ commitment to harnessing science in pursuit of a levelled-up, post-Brexit innovation economy. Questions also remain about how funding should be distributed and directed. Jack Grove examines the lessons from history and from overseas

Shell chair and former BHP chief executive nominated to succeed Sir John Kingman

Report author says increasing funding would only lead to more insecurity, and culture shift is needed instead

University staff are keen on hybrid working, but will it work long-term for researchers? Jack Grove examines which practices might outlast the pandemic

Shift towards studies using preregistered reports could inhibit scientific inquiry and harm researcher well-being, argue US scholars

Delhi redevelopment could put irreplaceable documents at risk, say scholars

Software tools need to be properly valued for their vital role in facilitating research, say Bilal Mateen and Tariq Khokhar

Critics argue that The Lancet failed to disclose potential conflict of interest when dismissing the leak theory

Funder’s reduced budget for 2021-22 reflects loss of pro-science adviser and mindset of new Treasury boss, say Whitehall and research council insiders

Latest attempt to replicate Darpa brings bipartisan praise but also wariness of potential harm to basic health research

Hybrid working may suit some disciplines, but Gary Macfarlane fears that the convenience will come at the cost of creativity and collegiality

Talking to lab members is not very revealing when they are habituated into an abusive culture, says Joana Vieira

Economist says university innovations can rejuvenate Australian productivity, but only if ‘bizarre’ tax arrangements are addressed

Trailblazing initiative to transform hiring, promotion and performance review has been praised by open science advocates

Former minister accuses Canberra of ‘McCarthyism’ amid spate of unexplained research grant delays and vetoes

Geopolitical rivalry, security concerns and America’s ‘roaring 20s’ optimism generate R&D prospects down under, ambassador says

Promising studies in treating mental illness leave Collins eyeing expansion in politically sensitive area

With history books increasingly including first-person, ‘confessional’ elements, authors explain why they take this approach, while other historians reflect on the dangers

Liberals go focus on undergraduates with collaboration push while Labor hawks reconstruction fund

Students would be far better advised to focus on demonstrating their mastery of research skills, says Gordon Message

Do neighbour institutions work closely together to boost their overall standing or do they tend to play to their strengths in a particular discipline?

Scottish affairs committee calls for universities north of border to be better represented in UK Research and Innovation decision-making