Eugenie Samuel Reich

Eugenie Samuel Reich

I’m a science writer in Cambridge, MA. I write about physics, science policy, alleged misconduct and other scientific issues. I’m currently a correspondent for Nature. On this site you can find links to a selection of articles, information about my 2009 book on scientific fraud, and a short resume.

Contact Details

Cellphone: 617-821-1538

Office phone (at Nature): 617 475 9243
email: eugenie dot reich at gmail dot com

Selection of Articles

Here is a selection. For more regularly updated links, see my weblog at http://eugenier.wordpress.com/

Mathematician claims breakthrough in Sudoku puzzle Nature January 2012
A news report on how supercomputers were used to prove that valid Sudokus need at least 17 clues.

Finding puts brakes on faster-than-light neutrinos Nature October 2011
The latest of several articles covering the twists and turns in the faster-than-light neutrinos story. See also here and here.

Lobbyists confront US budget crunch Nature October 2011
An enterprising story that drew on data from Opensecrets.org (based on lobbying reports) and interviews to describe how science lobbyists are trying to do more with less.

Misconduct oversight at the DOE: Investigation closed Nature July 2011

Magazine feature describing lax oversight revealed by the government’s court filings in my Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the US Department of Energy,

and how efforts by whistleblowers to raise the alarm were rebuffed

Whistle-blower claims his accusations cost him his job Nature June 2011

An investigative news story about a case of apparent retaliation against a post-doc who raised concerns about suspected research fraud

Dark matter no-show confronts supersymmetry Nature April 2011

A blog post about potential problems with a claim to have discovered potential evidence for dark matter

Radio antenna decision makes waves Nature February 2011

Magazine story breaking news of concerns over procedural transparency at the US National Science Foundation

Cancer trial errors revealed – Anil Potti case Nature January 2011

An investigative story revealing how administrators at Duke University withheld key evidence from a review panel looking at cancer geneticist Anil Potti’s work

Missing part delays space mission – delays on LISA pathfinder Nature January 2011

An enterprising magazine article explaining how scientists and engineers on LISA pathfinder ran into problem with a key spacecraft part

The supersolid’s nemesis – profile of John Reppy Nature December 2010

Magazine feature describing a 79-year-old superfluidity expert who came out of retirement and cast doubt on a former student’s claim to have discovered a supersolid

300-year-old engravings shed light on women in science Nature December 2010

Online Slideshow showcasing the work of Susanne and Anna Lister tells how women have played a little-known role in science as scientific illustrators

G-whizzes disagree over gravity Nature August 2010

News article about how advances in the precision of measurements of gravity have actually resulted in researchers knowing it with less accuracy

Universal Rule Discovered for Languages New Scientist June 2010

News report on an MIT professor’s quirky attempt to explain Wh-questions (like Why, What, and How?)

Hunting the mysterious monopole New Scientist May 2009

Magazine cover feature about how monopoles, sought in places as far-flung as the bottom of the ocean and outer-space, had been discovered in magnetically frustrated spin-ice materials

Five books on scientific fraud The Wall Street Journal June 2009

My response to The Wall Street Journal’s question about the best books on scientific fraud

Stimulus funds for science raise concerns about misconduct Scientific American May 2009

Magazine article discussing steps science agencies took to prevent fraud, waste and abuse with funds from the 2009 stimulus bill

Biologist spared jail for grant fraud Nature June 2011

Enterprising news article drawing on information in court filings to describe how scientific fraudster Luk Van Parijs avoided jail

Former MIT biologist penalized for falsifying data Nature February 2009

News report discussing federal finding of misconduct against former MIT professor Luk Van Parijs, including over irregularities discussed in my 2005 news piece

Data irregularities in the work of MIT professor New Scientist October 2005

Investigative online report revealing data irregularities in the work of MIT associate professor Luk Van Parijs

Bubble-fusion researcher debarred from federal funding Nature November 2009
News story announcing the federal finding against Rusi Taleyarkhan

Silencing the hype -- doubts over the bubble-fusion claims of Rusi Taleyarkhan Nature March 2006

Special Report revealed doubts over claims by self-proclaimed “bubble fusion” pioneer Rusi Taleyarkhan

Oak Ridge researchers admit errors The Boston Globe November 2006

Investigative newspaper article describing what happened when a peer reviewer alleged scientific fraud

Doubts over stem cell images prompt inquiry New Scientist August 2009

Magazine article with Peter Aldhous describing problems in work co-authored with stem cell biologist Catherine Verfaillie
Stem cell researcher guilty of falsifying data New Scientist October 2008

Magazine news article with Peter Aldhous describing findings of investigation into concerns we had raised

Fresh questions on stem cell findings New Scientist March 2007

Investigative magazine article with Peter Aldhous on irregularities in work co-authored by stem cell biologist Catherine Verfaillie

Book Information