Phenomenon: The Lost Archives

Season 1, Episode 7: Science Fraud: Is the Tail Wagging the Dog?

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The Cold Fusion Debacle and the purported discovery of the Piltdown man stand as two of the greatest shams perpetrated over the course of scientific history. Have the people of science learned anything from the real or alleged Goldbricks of the past? Experts in the field seem to think not. Today's scientists are under mounting pressure to achieve results. If they do not, they risk losing research grants and/or a chance at University tenure. How do these inherent conflicts of interest impact the integrity of medical and scientific discovery and how do they affect our society at large?