This article details the case of Rafael Luque, a Spanish chemist whose prolific publication record led to international recognition but is now marred by the retraction of 11 studies due to fraudulent practices. The investigation highlights the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to accelerate publication, a high rate of publications in collaboration with other researchers with retracted studies, and questionable affiliations with institutions in several countries.
Luque's unusual level of productivity (one study every two working days in 2022) and collaborations with numerous scientists, many of whom also had retracted papers, fueled suspicion. The analysis of the new scientific integrity monitoring tool, Argos, reveals he is in the top 0.1% of authors with the most retracted papers, with an additional 96 at high risk of retraction. He even received an award in the Kremlin, despite his misconduct.
Argos, a tool created by Scitility, analyzed 57 million studies daily. It helped to reveal Luque's suspicious patterns, including collaborations with 198 scientists with a history of retracted papers. The article emphasizes Argos's value in identifying and monitoring risky research activities.
The article suggests that financial incentives, including high salaries and perks from institutions, played a significant role in Luque's actions and the actions of other scientists involved in inflating university rankings and seeking recognition. This is further supported by previous reporting on incentives offered by Saudi universities.
Luque was expelled from the University of Córdoba, receiving a 13-year suspension without pay. The article explores the broader implications of scientific fraud, its impact on the integrity of academic rankings, and the need for tools like Argos to ensure accountability within the scientific community.