RNAAS Retraction Prompts Policy Review

A 2024 note retracted by the RNAAS journal shows a NASA researcher and a high school student relying on calculated values to test Kepler law in exoplanet data.

NASA Lab Retraction Highlights Data Source Risk

A nonpeer reviewed note in the RNAAS journal has been retracted after readers flagged concerns online. The authors are a NASA researcher and a high school student who volunteered at a NASA sponsored lab. The work attempted to confirm a law of astrophysics by using calculations that assumed the law was true. RNAAS is published by the American Astronomical Society, and the retraction prompted a review of the journal’s publishing practices for student projects and data sources.

Jadon Lam, who later joined Caltech, is identified as the student involved. The retraction notice points to the use of calculated semi major axis values and notes that independent measurements were not used. The incident has led editors to revise how archival data sources are checked before posting, and it has sparked discussion about the boundaries between education, mentorship, and publication in quick notes.

This case tests the frontiers of student research and the pressures of publishing in fast, open forums. It shows how a well meaning effort can stumble when data provenance is unclear and when calculated values are mistaken for observations. The episode also underscores why journals must guard against premature claims while still supporting learning. Social media reaction played a role in triggering scrutiny, illustrating how online voices can influence scholarly standards and policy adjustments.

Highlights

The episode invites a closer look at mentorship and data ethics in publishing.