A former PhD scholar has turn out to be one of the crucial talked-about figures in China’s analysis group after questioning the credibility of papers printed by outstanding scientists.
Recognized on-line as Scholar Geng, Geng Hongwei was a doctoral scholar in biomedical engineering at Beihang College earlier than leaving his PhD in 2025. He had already began making science movies throughout his doctoral years, finally turning the account ‘Geng Tongxue Jiang Gushi’, or ‘Scholar Geng Tells Tales’, right into a full-time profession.
His Bilibili profile describes him as a “cyber graduate scholar” who shares analysis developments and infrequently discusses controversies in academia. The account has grown to greater than two million followers.
Earlier than the present scandal, he had already made movies about questionable analysis and educational controversies. In a Might 2026 interview, he mentioned that many leads got here from followers within the educational group, who would ship him papers and suspected issues for examination.
HOW HE CHECKS RESEARCH PAPERS
Geng’s investigations focus largely on information and pictures in biomedical analysis.
He examines printed figures, statistical patterns and underlying information for indicators that outcomes could have been manipulated or duplicated. Nature reported in June that his movies analyzing papers from Nature and different Nature-branded journals had been seen tens of millions of instances.
One instance concerned numerical patterns in experimental information that he argued have been unlikely to happen naturally. His investigations finally drew consideration to papers involving senior lecturers at a number of Chinese language universities.
Importantly, Geng’s on-line accusations are allegations till confirmed by institutional investigations or different proof. In a number of circumstances, universities subsequently introduced disciplinary motion.
THE APRIL POSTS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
In April 2026, Geng publicly questioned analysis by 5 lecturers linked to 4 Chinese language universities.
The primary main case concerned Wang Ping, then dean of Tongji College’s Faculty of Life Sciences and Expertise. Tongji later mentioned an investigation had discovered educational misconduct involving experimental information in a Nature paper and eliminated Wang from his place.
Different universities subsequently introduced motion involving researchers Geng had scrutinised. By June, Nature reported that 4 senior Chinese language lecturers had been disciplined after his allegations.
WHY THE LATEST NSFC ACTION MATTERS
The story has now moved past particular person universities.
In keeping with the South China Morning Put up, China’s Nationwide Pure Science Basis printed particulars on August 26 of 31 new educational misconduct circumstances involving greater than 40 researchers at universities and hospitals. SCMP described it as the muse’s largest public disclosure of misconduct circumstances thus far.
4 outstanding professors beforehand named by Geng in April have been amongst these dealing with official motion. The 4 had acquired the Nationwide Science Fund for Distinguished Younger Students.
Their funding and associated honours have been revoked, they have been ordered to return greater than 10 million yuan in grants and have been barred from making use of for NSFC funding for between three and 7 years, SCMP reported.
BUT THE STORY IS NOT OVER
Geng’s rise has additionally raised questions on how educational misconduct is detected within the first place.
His case is uncommon as a result of a social-media creator, quite than an establishment or journal, introduced a number of alleged issues into the general public eye earlier than formal investigations adopted.
In Might, Geng additionally mentioned his Douyin account had been completely restricted, in accordance with reporting by The Epoch Occasions.
For now, his largest affect could also be that analysis papers as soon as scrutinised primarily by reviewers and specialists are being examined by a a lot bigger on-line viewers.
And whereas the NSFC’s newest disclosure marks a serious official response, lots of the claims raised by Geng haven’t acquired a public dedication. That leaves an necessary distinction between what he has alleged on-line and what Chinese language establishments have formally established.
– Ends
