Strategies to improve public trust in biomedical research are being hindered by a scientific mindset that stifles interest in reform.

There is a clear need to encourage exploratory research within the framework of open science.

Many authors start with the figures when writing a paper, but it is easier to tell a good story if you start with the Introduction and Results, and leave the figures to later.

Authors should be open about the limitations of their work and not overstate its importance.

Universities must change so that the scientific enterprise can respond to the climate crisis.

Analysis of experiments on bacteria suggests that the dependence of cell size on growth rate is not an adaptation but a causal consequence of a regulatory mechanism that controls DNA replication.

Science is an essential component of policy-making in most areas of government, but the scientific community does not always understand its role in this process.

Standardizing the titles, terms and conditions under which postdocs are employed will benefit the biomedical research workforce.

Cutting down on long-distance air travel is the best way to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by the scientific community.

Ensuring that public feedback on preprints is focused, appropriate, specific and transparent (or FAST) will help to develop a thriving culture for reviewing and commenting on preprints.