Strengthening the scientific record | Science

Science is a social process. Discoveries—even by supposed “lone” geniuses—do not become knowledge until the findings are shared with the scientific community, to be vetted, challenged, and expanded on. Since the birth of the digital age, this discourse has become much more apparent, as communication outlets such as social media, blogs, and websites such as PubPeer and Retraction Watch allow the scientific community to discuss new findings. Further, the availability of greater amounts of data that support findings allows peers to redo key analyses to confirm or report discrepancies. This week, Science is announcing two changes—one to accelerate the conversation about papers and another to ease deposition of supporting data—that will facilitate the evaluation of research findings across the wide scientific enterprise.