NATURE RETRACTS CONTROVERSIAL SUPERCONDUCTIVITY PAPER BY EMBATTLED PHYSICIST RANGA DIAS

Nature has retracted a paper claiming the discovery of a room-temperature superconductor due to concerns raised by eight co-authors. The retraction notice states that the authors believe the published paper inaccurately represents the materials investigated, experimental measurements, and data-processing protocols. This marks the third high-profile retraction involving the lead authors, physicists Ranga Dias at the University of Rochester and Ashkan Salamat at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Nature had previously withdrawn a separate paper last year, and Physical Review Letters retracted one in August. The retraction follows allegations of plagiarism against Dias, who objected to the first two retractions and has not responded to the latest.

The retracted paper claimed the discovery of a room-temperature superconductor operating at relatively low pressure. The controversy surrounding Dias and Salamat has raised questions about the editorial review process at Nature, prompting concerns about why reviewers did not identify the issues. Critics had expressed skepticism about the research, particularly regarding measurements of the material's electrical resistance. The journal's investigation and post-publication review deemed these concerns credible, substantial, and unresolved.

The retracted paper, published on March 8, presented results of a compound made of hydrogen, lutetium, and small amounts of nitrogen, identified as a superconductor at temperatures up to 21°C when under high pressure. The retraction adds to the challenges faced by Dias and Salamat, with scientists questioning the integrity of their research and the editorial procedures at prestigious scientific journals.