The article highlights the rise of paper mills, which fabricate scientific manuscripts and sell authorships, undermining the integrity of research and slowing scientific progress. Reports suggest that 400,000 papers exhibited characteristics of paper mill production from 2000 to 2022, yet only a fraction were flagged for retraction or correction. A group of scientists, now known as integrity sleuths, has emerged to expose fraudulent publications but struggles for authority in rectifying these issues, relying heavily on institutional investigations and journal publishers to address the prevalence of academic dishonesty.
The growth of paper mills has created a booming industry that undermines trust in scientific research, posing serious threats to scientific integrity and progress.
Despite uncovering thousands of problematic papers from paper mills, integrity sleuths often lack the power to enact change and rely on institutions for accountability.
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