1000s German academics have to teach — even if they're never paid for it

In Germany and Austria there's a degree higher than a PhD traditionally required for professorships, and it's kind of a terrible deal.

The two secret ingredients of great science media

Here's a hint: they rhyme with honey and lime.

A scammer impersonated a science journalist. It worked.

AI fraud is going to make it harder for new voices to break into science journalism

OpenAI is turning math into a pay-to-win game

Also: NSF science funding overhaul, more newspaper layoffs, and people trust scientists who seem "on their side"

This is how a science paper becomes science news

Also: Journals milking open access fees, AI interest stories, and a big win for local journalism in California

Five takeaways from the MIT report on AI in higher ed

Also: Two AI math discoveries, unconventional science funding, and bunsen burner mythology

"It's honestly a miracle that we're still around" — the Xylom's Alex Ip on indie newsroom realities

Also: Controversial changes to NIH peer review, 90% of biomedical papers show signs of AI use, and Harvard shuts down its writing center

Some things are beyond words (and pictures, and video)

Sometimes you just have to be there

How can I make this newsletter better for you?

I'm on vacation for the eclipse. So instead of the usual Monday post, I have a request: tell me what you want!

Academics in Germany and Austria are stuck in job limbo

Also: Montana's "right to try" law for experimental cures, UK science gets reshuffled, a university sues Anthropic over patents, and more from last week

It is not science journalism's job to improve trust in science

Also: The "Science: A New Golden Age" report, layoffs at National Geographic, and studies on the consequences of AI adoption in research

Is peer review at Science sexist?

Also: Attention as a class issue, an anti-AI editorial containing AI links, and a Thiel-backed journalist-rating startup