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sellers.

Welcome to Scientific Americans Science Talk posted on August 2nd, 2018. I'm Steve Merski. On this episode,

what starts to happen is the quality of the science starts to erode. And the result,

what we're seeing is a significant number of studies that get published aren't true. That's the familiar voice of Richard Harris. He's been on National

Public Radio for three decades covering science, medicine, and the environment. And he's the author of

the book Rigger Mortis, How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions.

We actually spoke in April 2017 when the book first came out in hardcover.

It was released as a paperback this year.

I met with Richard Harris in a recording studio at New York University.

Richard, let's talk about the title of the book because I think that's important to get out of the way.

This is not a book about dead bodies, although in some ways.

Well, yes.

Yes, rigor mortis is not about the stiffness that comes with death, but it was for me an irresistible pun.

Rigger being what is missing or in short supply in biomedicine right now.

And I hasten to say that rigor is not dead in scientific research, but I will say that it is

limping along a little bit and it could use a good jolt of energy.

Let's talk about what the issues are.

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