The Literature Gap: How Suppressed Negative Results Are Quietly Corrupting the Scientific Record
Journals have long favored novel, affirmative findings over studies that report null or contradictory outcomes, producing a scientific literature that reflects ambition more than reality. This structural preference distorts cumulative knowledge, allowing flawed methodologies to propagate unchecked across subsequent research. The consequences extend far beyond academic inconvenience—they shape clinical decisions, policy frameworks, and the allocation of billions in research funding.