Fabian Wittmers - PubPeer: Archasia Belfragei
@academic-integrity.bsky.social
just a scientist who cares about scientific integrity.
Find sketchy things I find on pubpeer, user "Archasia Belfragei"
Find sketchy things I find on pubpeer, user "Archasia Belfragei"
Reposted by Fabian Wittmers - PubPeer: Archasia Belfragei
Reverse Image Forensics Challenge: Try to find a unique area in Figure 9 of this recent Scientific Reports paper: 10.1038/s41598-025-17456-6 [Aug 2025] - Annotated by ImageTwin.ai
November 11, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Reverse Image Forensics Challenge: Try to find a unique area in Figure 9 of this recent Scientific Reports paper: 10.1038/s41598-025-17456-6 [Aug 2025] - Annotated by ImageTwin.ai
Always a good start to the week when you get notified that a paper flagged more than a year ago finally got retracted: Ahsan et al. 2021 (DOI: 10.1007/s10787-021-00840-9). Images overlap with multiple other papers. pubpeer.com/publications...
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Always a good start to the week when you get notified that a paper flagged more than a year ago finally got retracted: Ahsan et al. 2021 (DOI: 10.1007/s10787-021-00840-9). Images overlap with multiple other papers. pubpeer.com/publications...
Wiley today retracted this paper in which a corner clone was used to manipulate a microscopy-image: Iconaru et al. 2011 (DOI: 10.1155/2011/291512) - retraction was the appropriate actions. pubpeer.com/publications...
I even got cited for my comment on PubPeer! That's a first for me, but nice to see.
I even got cited for my comment on PubPeer! That's a first for me, but nice to see.
November 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Wiley today retracted this paper in which a corner clone was used to manipulate a microscopy-image: Iconaru et al. 2011 (DOI: 10.1155/2011/291512) - retraction was the appropriate actions. pubpeer.com/publications...
I even got cited for my comment on PubPeer! That's a first for me, but nice to see.
I even got cited for my comment on PubPeer! That's a first for me, but nice to see.
A retraction can also increate the confidence that we have in the integrity of someone's research. I think this is a good example of that.
This of course does not count for retractions caused by sleuths who find clearly manipulated images or data & w/ the authors continuously making poor excuses...
This of course does not count for retractions caused by sleuths who find clearly manipulated images or data & w/ the authors continuously making poor excuses...
It’s true that some scientific results can’t be replicated. And it’s also true that some people do the right thing when that happens:
Taking It Back, The Right Way
www.science.org
November 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A retraction can also increate the confidence that we have in the integrity of someone's research. I think this is a good example of that.
This of course does not count for retractions caused by sleuths who find clearly manipulated images or data & w/ the authors continuously making poor excuses...
This of course does not count for retractions caused by sleuths who find clearly manipulated images or data & w/ the authors continuously making poor excuses...
Not sure I buy these scale bars, at least one must be off.
Team from India & New Zealand: Yadav et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146238). That's on top of what seems like the same underlying image representing two materials... pubpeer.com/publications...
Team from India & New Zealand: Yadav et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146238). That's on top of what seems like the same underlying image representing two materials... pubpeer.com/publications...
November 4, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Not sure I buy these scale bars, at least one must be off.
Team from India & New Zealand: Yadav et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146238). That's on top of what seems like the same underlying image representing two materials... pubpeer.com/publications...
Team from India & New Zealand: Yadav et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146238). That's on top of what seems like the same underlying image representing two materials... pubpeer.com/publications...
Next retraction for Italian cancer researcher Sebastiano Andó: molpharm.aspetjournals.org/article/S002... pubpeer.com/publications... The first concerns on this article were raised in 2013 by C. Francis
I wrote about this disgraceful saga for FBS a few weeks ago: forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
I wrote about this disgraceful saga for FBS a few weeks ago: forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
November 1, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Next retraction for Italian cancer researcher Sebastiano Andó: molpharm.aspetjournals.org/article/S002... pubpeer.com/publications... The first concerns on this article were raised in 2013 by C. Francis
I wrote about this disgraceful saga for FBS a few weeks ago: forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
I wrote about this disgraceful saga for FBS a few weeks ago: forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
More 'science' by the same Canadian team: Nabipour et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140027). pubpeer.com/publications...
Plenty more anomalies and issues flagged by various others on PubPeer; too much to blame it on a student or undergrad.
Plenty more anomalies and issues flagged by various others on PubPeer; too much to blame it on a student or undergrad.
October 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
More 'science' by the same Canadian team: Nabipour et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140027). pubpeer.com/publications...
Plenty more anomalies and issues flagged by various others on PubPeer; too much to blame it on a student or undergrad.
Plenty more anomalies and issues flagged by various others on PubPeer; too much to blame it on a student or undergrad.
Some interesting data coming out of this Canadian research group: Nabipour et al. 2024 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128875) - University of Western Ontario seem to have hired some (photoshop) experts cosplaying as 'scientists' pubpeer.com/publications...
October 30, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Some interesting data coming out of this Canadian research group: Nabipour et al. 2024 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128875) - University of Western Ontario seem to have hired some (photoshop) experts cosplaying as 'scientists' pubpeer.com/publications...
Shanghai-based Deng-Guang Yu just lost his 2nd paper (~100 flagged on PubPeer).
It was reported to Frontiers in February & recycled data originally published in 2013 by Yu's team:
Wang et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1184767) pubpeer.com/publications...
forbetterscience.com/2025/03/03/a...
It was reported to Frontiers in February & recycled data originally published in 2013 by Yu's team:
Wang et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1184767) pubpeer.com/publications...
forbetterscience.com/2025/03/03/a...
October 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Shanghai-based Deng-Guang Yu just lost his 2nd paper (~100 flagged on PubPeer).
It was reported to Frontiers in February & recycled data originally published in 2013 by Yu's team:
Wang et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1184767) pubpeer.com/publications...
forbetterscience.com/2025/03/03/a...
It was reported to Frontiers in February & recycled data originally published in 2013 by Yu's team:
Wang et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1184767) pubpeer.com/publications...
forbetterscience.com/2025/03/03/a...
"Anti-inflammatory and osteogenic nanofibrous scaffolds of bioactive glass/carboxymethyl chitosan-reinforced PCL short fibers for alveolar bone regeneration"
The title almost gave me a stroke. No further comment.
Feng et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147197) pubpeer.com/publications...
The title almost gave me a stroke. No further comment.
Feng et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147197) pubpeer.com/publications...
October 28, 2025 at 4:11 AM
"Anti-inflammatory and osteogenic nanofibrous scaffolds of bioactive glass/carboxymethyl chitosan-reinforced PCL short fibers for alveolar bone regeneration"
The title almost gave me a stroke. No further comment.
Feng et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147197) pubpeer.com/publications...
The title almost gave me a stroke. No further comment.
Feng et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147197) pubpeer.com/publications...
If you correct your paper because of crooked microscopy images but you don't have any clean data to use, so you have to use more nonsense for the "corrected" figure: He et al. 2021 (DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117870) pubpeer.com/publications...
Issuing a correction for the correction next?
Issuing a correction for the correction next?
October 26, 2025 at 10:42 PM
If you correct your paper because of crooked microscopy images but you don't have any clean data to use, so you have to use more nonsense for the "corrected" figure: He et al. 2021 (DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117870) pubpeer.com/publications...
Issuing a correction for the correction next?
Issuing a correction for the correction next?
It is 2025 and Elsevier's International Journal of Biological Macromolecules still publishes nonsense wound healing studies: Mahadev et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140097) pubpeer.com/publications...
100ths of these flagged on PubPeer. 0 scientific value, just animal torture...
100ths of these flagged on PubPeer. 0 scientific value, just animal torture...
October 25, 2025 at 10:15 PM
It is 2025 and Elsevier's International Journal of Biological Macromolecules still publishes nonsense wound healing studies: Mahadev et al. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140097) pubpeer.com/publications...
100ths of these flagged on PubPeer. 0 scientific value, just animal torture...
100ths of these flagged on PubPeer. 0 scientific value, just animal torture...
And indeed, Sage investigated and found citation manipulation during peer review (presumably by Zhanhu Guo). The paper was corrected and all references to Guo's irrelevant work were removed: pubpeer.com/publications...
Guo has been doing this thing for years: forbetterscience.com/2025/04/15/a...
Guo has been doing this thing for years: forbetterscience.com/2025/04/15/a...
October 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
And indeed, Sage investigated and found citation manipulation during peer review (presumably by Zhanhu Guo). The paper was corrected and all references to Guo's irrelevant work were removed: pubpeer.com/publications...
Guo has been doing this thing for years: forbetterscience.com/2025/04/15/a...
Guo has been doing this thing for years: forbetterscience.com/2025/04/15/a...
Wiley today retracted this nonsense: Yang et al. 2019. Almost all issues were already flagged in 2020 by @smutclyde.bsky.social. I send a complaint about the paper in June 2025 and that seems to have woken up the journal at last... pubpeer.com/publications...
October 22, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Wiley today retracted this nonsense: Yang et al. 2019. Almost all issues were already flagged in 2020 by @smutclyde.bsky.social. I send a complaint about the paper in June 2025 and that seems to have woken up the journal at last... pubpeer.com/publications...
I wrote for ForBetterScience.com about an Italian "Scientist" (Fraudster) with a track record of 70+ fake cancer studies published over ~3 decades:
forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
Much of the fraud has been known for years but journals have taken little to no actions... enjoy the read!
forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
Much of the fraud has been known for years but journals have taken little to no actions... enjoy the read!
La Banda di Ando
Germans are traditionally fascinated with Italy. Like Goethe before him, Fabian Wittmers is no exception, so please enjoy our trip to the deep south of Italy where you will meet an undignified old …
forbetterscience.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I wrote for ForBetterScience.com about an Italian "Scientist" (Fraudster) with a track record of 70+ fake cancer studies published over ~3 decades:
forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
Much of the fraud has been known for years but journals have taken little to no actions... enjoy the read!
forbetterscience.com/2025/10/21/l...
Much of the fraud has been known for years but journals have taken little to no actions... enjoy the read!
When we flagged this paper in February '25 the PI called us out for asking 'stupid questions'. The paper has now been RETRACTED. Yang et al. 2020 (DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116477)
This behavior prompted a deep-dive into the PI's extensive scientific record resulting in ~100 flagged papers.
This behavior prompted a deep-dive into the PI's extensive scientific record resulting in ~100 flagged papers.
This kind professor and "scientist" drew some attention by insulting me and Thallarcha lechrioleuca on PubPeer. We took a closer look and have already found sketchy spectra with identical noise across 20+ papers. Just getting started since he has co-authored 400 in total. pubpeer.com/publications...
October 20, 2025 at 10:37 PM
When we flagged this paper in February '25 the PI called us out for asking 'stupid questions'. The paper has now been RETRACTED. Yang et al. 2020 (DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116477)
This behavior prompted a deep-dive into the PI's extensive scientific record resulting in ~100 flagged papers.
This behavior prompted a deep-dive into the PI's extensive scientific record resulting in ~100 flagged papers.
In case you think Science Family journals are immune to issues: I emailed the editors and Science on March 1st 2025 and have not heard back on this. Cited ~6000 times by the way: Ginhoux et al. 2010 (DOI: 10.1126/science.1194637). Might be an honest mistake but it should be addressed/clarified, no?
October 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In case you think Science Family journals are immune to issues: I emailed the editors and Science on March 1st 2025 and have not heard back on this. Cited ~6000 times by the way: Ginhoux et al. 2010 (DOI: 10.1126/science.1194637). Might be an honest mistake but it should be addressed/clarified, no?
Given the senior authors' PubPeer record, there should be a dozen-or-so retractions pending. I just flagged this great SEM figure in one of their papers: Erfani et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135459) in Elsevier's Food Chemistry: pubpeer.com/publications...
October 16, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Given the senior authors' PubPeer record, there should be a dozen-or-so retractions pending. I just flagged this great SEM figure in one of their papers: Erfani et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135459) in Elsevier's Food Chemistry: pubpeer.com/publications...
Retraction by Wiley: Asadzadeh et al. 2020 (DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202000061). Reported to Wiley in May '25, but first flagged for the XRD issues by others in 2023 already: pubpeer.com/publications...
Retraction is the only sensical decision here. Papers looks more-or-less completely fabricated...
Retraction is the only sensical decision here. Papers looks more-or-less completely fabricated...
October 16, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Retraction by Wiley: Asadzadeh et al. 2020 (DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202000061). Reported to Wiley in May '25, but first flagged for the XRD issues by others in 2023 already: pubpeer.com/publications...
Retraction is the only sensical decision here. Papers looks more-or-less completely fabricated...
Retraction is the only sensical decision here. Papers looks more-or-less completely fabricated...
Reposted by Fabian Wittmers - PubPeer: Archasia Belfragei
Re-posting Dr. Wittmers' thread, with a some supporting info.
Fabian flagged a paper in J. Appl. Polym. Sci for region duplication in PXRD (see pubpeer.com/publications... ), and reported it to Wiley. I have found additional duplications and crazy chemistry.
Wiley's response? All 💯 👍
#ChemSky
Fabian flagged a paper in J. Appl. Polym. Sci for region duplication in PXRD (see pubpeer.com/publications... ), and reported it to Wiley. I have found additional duplications and crazy chemistry.
Wiley's response? All 💯 👍
#ChemSky
October 8, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Re-posting Dr. Wittmers' thread, with a some supporting info.
Fabian flagged a paper in J. Appl. Polym. Sci for region duplication in PXRD (see pubpeer.com/publications... ), and reported it to Wiley. I have found additional duplications and crazy chemistry.
Wiley's response? All 💯 👍
#ChemSky
Fabian flagged a paper in J. Appl. Polym. Sci for region duplication in PXRD (see pubpeer.com/publications... ), and reported it to Wiley. I have found additional duplications and crazy chemistry.
Wiley's response? All 💯 👍
#ChemSky
Reposted by Fabian Wittmers - PubPeer: Archasia Belfragei
We will fight back with this
October 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
We will fight back with this
(1/x) Some thoughts on a recent case: I raised concerns about an article published in 2010 w/ Wiley's IACR team in August 2025. I considered the problems to be severe and clearly indicative of manipulated data (see image below): Sarhan et al. 2010 (DOI: 10.1002/app.32522) pubpeer.com/publications...
October 8, 2025 at 11:19 AM
(1/x) Some thoughts on a recent case: I raised concerns about an article published in 2010 w/ Wiley's IACR team in August 2025. I considered the problems to be severe and clearly indicative of manipulated data (see image below): Sarhan et al. 2010 (DOI: 10.1002/app.32522) pubpeer.com/publications...
Spirulina has been Un-Unleashed: MDPI retracted a paper (I am always surprised when that happens - this is the 2nd one out of 100+ I sent them so far). Nisa et al. 2024 (DOI: 10.3390/foods13213512)
Their fancy title didn't safe them after all.
Their fancy title didn't safe them after all.
October 1, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Spirulina has been Un-Unleashed: MDPI retracted a paper (I am always surprised when that happens - this is the 2nd one out of 100+ I sent them so far). Nisa et al. 2024 (DOI: 10.3390/foods13213512)
Their fancy title didn't safe them after all.
Their fancy title didn't safe them after all.
I wrote a little piece for ForBetterScience.com: forbetterscience.com/2025/09/29/f... about a duo of Egyptian papermillers in Europe.
(I unfortunately cannot claim credit for the great title image - that one has to go to Leonid himself!)
(I unfortunately cannot claim credit for the great title image - that one has to go to Leonid himself!)
Fady & Marian, or How to share a Photoshop license
“If you need a graphics designer with basic photo shop skills to tune up your data, they might be the right team for the job!” – Fabian Wittmers
forbetterscience.com
September 29, 2025 at 5:15 AM
I wrote a little piece for ForBetterScience.com: forbetterscience.com/2025/09/29/f... about a duo of Egyptian papermillers in Europe.
(I unfortunately cannot claim credit for the great title image - that one has to go to Leonid himself!)
(I unfortunately cannot claim credit for the great title image - that one has to go to Leonid himself!)
A question that I get all the time. I often think the same to myself. We will not be able to understand their motivation & yet should still retract these papers rigorously.
For example this one: Rofeal et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.080) pubpeer.com/publications...
For example this one: Rofeal et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.080) pubpeer.com/publications...
September 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
A question that I get all the time. I often think the same to myself. We will not be able to understand their motivation & yet should still retract these papers rigorously.
For example this one: Rofeal et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.080) pubpeer.com/publications...
For example this one: Rofeal et al. 2023 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.080) pubpeer.com/publications...