In the modern world of Wikileaks and ClimateGate, where and how you get things and their credibility matters less than how opponents can make political hay with it, the impact on science is evident as well.
Jennifer Couzin-Frankel and Gretchen Vogel writing at Science detail how accusations of scientific fraud from an anonymous e-mail address sent to the researchers in question but also to other prominent stem cell biologists, several scientific journals, and reporters has the paper authors defending themselves, virtually without cause.
"I was quite shocked and upset that this anonymous e-mail was sent to us and copied to half the stem cell world and the [Boston] Globe and Nature, Cell, and Science," says Hochedlinger. Uncertain how to respond, he began compiling images to demonstrate that he had photographed two different embryos, including one original photo that showed both in the same image. "We have quite clear proof that these accusations are unfounded," he says.
We need to keep in mind that open and transparent communication about errors is important in all fields so we shouldn't glorify people who are out to pursue an unclear agenda and naturally assume that accusation means guilt.
