Science Magazine Retracts NASA Astrobiology Paper – But Only After 15 years

Keith’s note: Science magazine is retracting a NASA paper they published 15 years ago – “A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus” but they are not saying exactly why they are doing so – other than a new standard they just invented. And it took them 15 years to figure this out.

Statement from NASA associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate Nicola Fox:

“At NASA, the Gold Standard of Science is at the heart of our scientific discoveries that help us to better understand our solar system, and our place in it, for the benefit of all humanity. We have, and will continue to be, open and transparent in our communications on results that we have funded, even if results are found to be incorrect. The change in policy at the journal, Science, to retract research publications due to a disconnection between the data and the published conclusions is unprecedented and upends the current standards in the research and scientific fields.

Since Science has not applied this new standard across the board and has singled out this particular paper alone that was published 15 years ago, NASA does not condone or support the retraction decision made by Science. The agency encourages Science to reconsider its retraction to protect the integrity of the scientific process in action, the value of pre-publication peer review, and reinforce those who publish intellectually risky results for the benefit of the world.”

“NASA-Funded Astrobiology Research Discovers Earth Life Built With Arsenic” 2 Dec 2010

Astrobiology,