An academic journal published by Springer has retracted over 200 papers since the start of last month, Retraction Watch reported.
The journal, Optical and Quantum Electronics, published at least 10 retraction notes on Tuesday alone, all regarding articles published in 2023 and 2024 and written by various authors. The notes contained similar messages, saying Springer had retracted the papers after an investigation into multiple articles found concerns. The scope of the investigation wasn’t specified.
“These concerns include but are not limited to the article being out of scope for the journal, the peer-review process not being in line with editorial policy, inappropriate or irrelevant references being included or nonstandard phrases being used,” one note said. “The publisher and editors-in-chief therefore no longer have confidence in the results and conclusions of this article and have agreed that it should be retracted.”
Other similar retraction notes said the investigation raised concerns about a “compromised peer-review process.”
Optical and Quantum Electronics says on its website that it “embraces diverse and emerging fields, ranging from nanotechnology in photonics to advanced quantum and optoelectronic applications.”
Retraction Watch reported that the problems in the notes suggest “blind use of AI or machine-translation software.” It cited Guillaume Cabanac, a computer science professor at France’s University of Toulouse, for first highlighting issues with the journal in February. Cabanac posted on X, “I suspect papermill submissions plus compromised peer review.”
Chris Graf, director of research integrity at Springer Nature, told Retraction Watch that “these investigations are based on intelligence from past work alongside whistleblower information” but declined to share specifics.
