Filth often emerges after a set interval relative to nutrition intake.

Both of those would be detected as light coming back, but with different spectra and geometry, so fair enough.

Whatever is not reflected is transmitted. Where else could the energy go?

It helps that the seasons and school holidays are six months out of phase.

That’s a mouse. Sylvester is chasing it as we speak.

At least you’re rich, if you can afford to pay those amounts to your friends!

I can agree with that. And I’m sure it’s because letters on the forefront are published quickly without time to consider all the possible problems.

Anecdotal only, sorry. I’m sure it varies by field, and it’s more about letters than longer papers. There are probably fields where Nature is excellent, but I know that there is at least one where the odds of a letter to Nature being accurate a few years later is about 50%.

And, for that reason, about half the papers (depending on the field) published in Nature are wrong.

Maybe it’s like the GPL: using copyright to ensure it isn’t misused?