Why have papers by one of history's most famous physicists been retracted?
A recent article reveals that papers by a famously deceased physicist have been retracted, but the publisher, Springer Nature, is bafflingly selling a blank PDF of the 'withdrawn' work for $39.95. This revelation has ignited Hacker News, exposing the perceived absurdity and broken economics of academic publishing. The discussion is a collective eye-roll at a system that prioritizes profit over access and transparency, even when dealing with historical scientific contributions.
The Lowdown
The academic publishing world is once again under scrutiny following a bizarre incident involving the retraction of papers by one of history's most renowned physicists. Rather than a standard retraction notice, publisher Springer Nature has replaced the articles with a blank white page, cryptically stating 'This article has been withdrawn due to article violation.' The most perplexing detail, however, is the publisher's decision to continue selling this empty PDF for a hefty $39.95.
- Mysterious Retraction: Papers by an unnamed, but 'famous' physicist (speculated to be Max Planck in comments) were retracted without clear public reasons.
- Blank Pages for Sale: Springer Nature is selling an empty PDF of the 'withdrawn' article, rather than a properly marked or accessible version.
- Confidentiality Claims: The publisher defends its lack of transparency by stating that 'detailed information about specific retractions is usually confidential and can only be shared with the relevant authors,' a policy that sparked humor regarding the physicist's deceased status.
This incident has become a focal point for criticism against the academic publishing industry, highlighting its perceived profiteering, lack of transparency, and general dysfunction.
The Gossip
Publishing Publisher's Peculiar Practices
Commenters expressed widespread outrage and disbelief over Springer Nature's decision to sell a blank PDF for $39.95 after retracting a paper. Many viewed this as a stark example of the academic publishing system being 'broken' and driven by profit, highlighting the absurdity and perceived greed within an industry critical to scientific dissemination.
Retraction Reasons and Reclusiveness
The policy of keeping retraction details confidential, only to be shared with 'relevant authors,' drew sarcastic remarks. Given the papers belong to a 'famous physicist' (implied to be deceased), the confidentiality clause was seen as an absurd and obstructive practice, leading to dark humor about needing a seance to clarify the situation.