Breakdowns of the Year

摘要

In May, for the first time in recorded history, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide rose above 400 parts per million, dramatizing the failure of governments to limit greenhouse gas emissions. • The same month, a second reaction wheel failed on the Kepler planet-hunting spacecraft, dooming its ability to point accurately and collect precise data. • In October, congressional gridlock on spending issues forced the U.S. government to partially shut down for 16 days, paralyzing science funding agencies, disrupting research projects, and canceling many Antarctic field studies. • More than one-half of 304 free open-access journals accepted a bogus paper submitted by Science journalist John Bohannon, who sparked fierce debate over the quality of peer review when he reported his sting. • By year's end, disgraced Dutch social psychologist Diederik Stapel had retracted at least 54 papers based on made-up data, but was giving a TED talk about his misconduct.