Nature journal has published recently an editorial text [Nature 556, 5 (2018)] entitled “Nature: the truth” (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-04024-4?utm_source=twt_nnc&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=naturenews&sf186201391=1).
There, we read a list of myths about Nature’s editorial processes and policies. Although we agree with most of them, we disagree with “Myth 4: The authorship of a paper — including country and institution — influences Nature’s decision on whether to referee or publish it. Untrue”. Based on several colleagues’ statements and our own experience, we think that “Myth 4” is not a myth.
Recently, we have submitted 3 papers presenting outstanding findings about barocaloric effect. Part of these findings concern the highest barocaloric values reported so far. These papers, which have only Brazilian authors, were not considered for revision by editors from Nature Communications, for instance. The curious fact is that less remarkable papers about barocaloric effect, reporting much smaller barocaloric values, were published in the same journal just before and just after our submissions.
If there was a non Brazilian "famous" author in our papers, would they have been considered for revision? Probably, yes.
In the rejection emails from Nature group, the editors should be more honest and say: "we cannot publish your paper because we do not trust you".
Recently, we have submitted 3 papers presenting outstanding findings about barocaloric effect. Part of these findings concern the highest barocaloric values reported so far. These papers, which have only Brazilian authors, were not considered for revision by editors from Nature Communications, for instance. The curious fact is that less remarkable papers about barocaloric effect, reporting much smaller barocaloric values, were published in the same journal just before and just after our submissions.
If there was a non Brazilian "famous" author in our papers, would they have been considered for revision? Probably, yes.
In the rejection emails from Nature group, the editors should be more honest and say: "we cannot publish your paper because we do not trust you".
