A large-scale analysis of millions of cancer studies has uncovered patterns suggesting that a significant portion of the literature may not be as reliable as it appears.

The “one big breakthrough” pattern suggests that total citation counts can mislead. A researcher with one highly-cited paper and several uncited ones may have a more impactful trajectory than one with ...

Medical research plays a vital role in advancing healthcare, improving treatment, and informing public health policies. However, it can be difficult to understand a study or whether it is trustworthy.