GIVEN journalists' penchant for sticking the suffix “gate” onto anything they think smells of conspiracy, a public-relations consultant might have suggested a different name. But ResearchGate, a small firm based in Berlin, is immune to such trivia. It is ambitious, too—aiming to do for the academic world what Mark Zuckerberg did for the world in general, by creating a social network for scientists. And it is successful. About 1.4m researchers have signed up already, and that number is growing by 50,000 a month.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Professor Facebook”
From the February 11th 2012 edition
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How harmful are electronic cigarettes?
The risks of vaping may be worth the benefits
Why don’t seals drown?
They can time their dives to match their blood oxygen
Rumours on social media could cause sick people to feel worse
They are powerful triggers of an inverse placebo effect
Can people be persuaded not to believe disinformation?
AI chatbots and critical thinking courses might help
Do viruses trigger Alzheimer’s?
A growing group of scientists think so, and are asking whether antivirals could treat the disease
What is the best way to keep your teeth healthy?
Tooth-brushing reigns supreme. But fluoride in tap water is a good safety net