2023-09-27 17:33:00
Read the full version
27.09.2023 20:33, Sergey Surabekyants
The co-authors of an article for the journal Nature, which described the discovery of the phenomenon of superconductivity at room temperature, asked the editors of the journal to retract the study, arguing that the lead researcher had distorted the data. Co-authors say University of Rochester physicist Ranga Dias “acted in bad faith with respect to the preparation and submission of the manuscript” and list numerous shortcomings of the article.
Image source: Adam Fenster/University of Rochester
“We respectfully request that Nature publish a retraction.”, eight of the eleven authors of the scandalous article wrote to the senior editor. Their request was granted, although Diaz is not going to give up the results of the study. “I have never falsified, manipulated or misrepresented data in any of my research papers.”, he said. In early September, Diaz approached at least six co-authors, threatening legal action for defamation. His page on the University of Rochester website still shows published information regarding the discovery made.
In March, Diaz and his team made headlines when they reported that the rare earth metal lutetium, compressed in a nitrogen-hydrogen environment, exhibits superconductivity at temperatures of regarding 21 degrees Celsius. Diaz’s bold claim regarding superconductivity at room temperature was immediately met with skepticism in the scientific world, which intensified as outside researchers scrutinized the work and tried to reproduce its results.
Image source: rochester.edu
According to a letter from Diaz’s co-authors to the journal Nature, some of them pointed out the study’s flaws to Diaz even before submitting the paper to the journal. The co-authors claim that their “the concerns were largely dismissed by Dr. Diaz, and several of us were instructed by Dr. Diaz not to delve into the issues raised and/or not to worry regarding such concerns.”.
The co-authors state that “At that time, Dr. Diaz controlled our personal, academic and financial circumstances as our mentor and supervisor.”, alluding to the fact that many of them were in a dependent situation on Diaz. But they also admit that Diaz suggested that the co-authors remove their names from the article, but they did not do so. Perhaps the temptation to become famous was too great.
On September 1, Nature magazine notified readers that “The reliability of the data presented in this manuscript is currently in question.” This is the third refutation of articles written under the leadership of Diaz in a year. In August, the journal Physical Review Letters retracted a study that described the properties of the manganese compound. Last September, the journal Nature retracted a 2020 paper describing the superconductivity of a material containing carbon, sulfur and hydrogen.
Other scientists have previously accused Diaz of plagiarizing parts of his doctoral dissertation written at Washington State University. While this accusation has not been confirmed or refuted, an investigation is ongoing. The leadership of the University of Rochester, in turn, turned to outside experts with instructions to study Diaz’s research.
1695846096
#coauthors #discovery #superconductivity #room #temperature #began #disown
