In the summer of 2023, I wrote about a shocking scandal at Harvard Business School: Star professor Francesca Gino had been accused of falsifying data in four of her published papers, with whispers there was falsification in others, too. A series of posts on Data Colada, a blog that focuses on research integrity, documented Gino’s apparent brazen data manipulation, which involved clearly changing study data to better support her hypotheses. This was a major accusation against a researcher at the top of her field, but Gino’s denials were unconvincing. She didn’t have a good explanation for what had gone wrong, asserting that maybe a research assistant had done it, even though she was the only author listed across all four of the falsified studies. Harvard put her on unpaid administrative leave and barred her from campus.The cherry on top? Gino’s main academic area of study was honesty in business.As I wrote at the time, my read of the evidence was that Gino had most likely committed fraud. That impression was only reinforced by her subsequent lawsuit against Harvard and the Data Colada authors. Gino complained that she’d been defamed and that Harvard hadn’t followed the right investigation process, but she didn’t offer any convincing explanation of how she’d ended up putting her name to paper after paper with fake data.This week, almost two years after the news first broke, the process has reached its resolution: Gino was stripped of tenure, the first time Harvard has essentially fired a tenured professor in at least 80 years. (Her defamation lawsuit against the bloggers who found the data manipulation was dismissed last year.)What we do right and wrong when it comes to scientific fraudHarvard is in the news right now for its war with the Trump administration, which has sent a series of escalating demands to the university, canceled billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts, and is now blocking the university from enrolling international students, all in an apparent attempt to force the university to conform to MAGA’s ideological demands. Stripping a celebrity professor of tenure might not seem like the best look at a moment when Harvard is in an existential struggle for its right to exist as an independent academic institution. But the Gino situation, which long predates the conflict with Trump, shouldn’t be interpreted solely through the lens of that fight. Scientific fraud is a real problem, one that is chillingly common across academia. But far from putting the university in a bad light, Harvard’s handling of the Gino case has actually been unusually good, even though it still underscores just how much further academia has to go to ensure scientific fraud becomes rare and is reliably caught and punished.There are two parts to fraud response: catching it and punishing it. Academia clearly isn’t very good at the first part. The peer-review process that all meaningful research undergoes tends to start from the default assumption that data in a reviewed paper is real, and instead focuses on whether the paper represents a meaningful advance and is correctly positioned with respect to other research. Almost no reviewer is going back to check to see if what is described in a paper actually happened.Fraud, therefore, is often caught only when other researchers actively try to replicate a result or take a close look at the data. Science watchdogs who find these fraud cases tell me that we need a strong expectation that data be made public — which makes it much harder to fake — as well as a scientific culture that embraces replications. (Given the premiums journals put on novelty in research and the supreme importance of publishing for academic careers, there’s been little motivation for scientists to pursue replication.). It is these watchdogs, not anyone at Harvard or in the peer-review process, who caught the discrepancies that ultimately sunk Gino.Crime and no punishmentEven when fraud is caught, academia too often fails to properly punish it. When third-party investigators bring a concern to the attention of a university, it’s been unusual for the responsible party to actually face consequences. One of Gino’s co-authors on one of the retracted papers was Dan Ariely, a star professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. He, too, has been credibly accused of falsifying data: For example, he published one study that he claimed took place at UCLA with the assistance of researcher Aimee Drolet Rossi. But UCLA says the study didn’t happen there, and Rossi says she did not participate in it. In a past case, he claimed on a podcast to have gotten data from the insurance company Delta Dental, which the company says it did not collect. In another case, an investigation by Duke reportedly found that data from a paper he co-authored with Gino had been falsified, but that there was no evidence Ariely had used fake data knowingly.Frankly, I don’t buy this. Maybe an unlucky professor might once end up using data that was faked without their knowledge. But if it happens again, I’m not willing to credit bad luck, and at some point, a professor who keeps “accidentally” using falsified or nonexistent data should be out of a job even if we can’t prove it was no accident. But Ariely, who has maintained his innocence, is still at Duke. Or take Olivier Voinnet, a plant biologist who had multiple papers conclusively demonstrated to contain image manipulation. He was found guilty of misconduct and suspended for two years. It’s hard to imagine a higher scientific sin than faking and manipulating data. If you can’t lose your job for that, the message to young scientists is inevitably that fraud isn’t really that serious. What it means to take fraud seriouslyGino’s loss of tenure, which is one of a few recent cases where misconduct has had major career consequences, might be a sign that the tides are changing. In 2023, around when the Gino scandal broke, Stanford’s then-president Marc Tessier-Lavigne stepped down after 12 papers he authored were found to contain manipulated data. A few weeks ago, MIT announced a data falsification scandal with a terse announcement that the university no longer had confidence in a widely distributed paper “by a former second-year PhD student.” It’s reasonable to assume the student was expelled from the program.I hope that these high-profile cases are a sign we are moving in the right direction on scientific fraud because its persistence is enormously damaging to science. Other researchers waste time and energy following false lines of research substantiated by fake data; in medicine, falsification can outright kill people. But even more than that, research fraud damages the reputation of science at exactly the moment when it is most under attack.We should tighten standards to make fraud much harder to commit in the first place, and when it is identified, the consequences should be immediate and serious. Let’s hope Harvard sets a trend.A version of this story originally appeared in the Future Perfect newsletter. 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How the Grand Ole Opry Put Uniquely American Music at Center Stage Through daring business decisions and an eye for talent, the vaunted country radio program still stands as a tastemaker for the fastest-growing genre in popular music Lindsay Kusiak June 2025 The Grand Ole Opry’s famous six-foot circle of wood was carefully carved from the previous stage at the Ryman Auditorium. The Grand Ole Opry On December 10, 1927, radio host George D. Hay announced the end of an hourlong opera program on Nashville’s WSM radio. Next up was the much more down-home Barn Dance. “For the past hour, we have been listening to the music taken largely from the Grand Opera,” Hay ad-libbed, “but from now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry.” It was an inadvertent and fateful christening for what would become a cultural institution and eventually the longest-running radio program in the country, introducing tens of millions of listeners to a distinctly American-born genre of music. As Hay playfully commented, the Opry offered a stark contrast to other highbrow programs populating the airwaves, swapping symphonies and arias for jaunty renditions of old Anglo-Celtic, European and African-American ballads played on the fiddle, banjo and guitar. It was hoedown music, or, as Hay lovingly called it, “hillbilly music,” and with a radio boom well underway, Hay had chosen an exceptionally propitious time to share it. Commercial radio fever swept the nation beginning in 1920, with more than 600 new stations emerging by the time the Opry premiered. But it was not the only barn dance on air, and Hay sought a way to make the show unique. He was known for his theatrical on-air persona, a mordant prude called “the Solemn Old Judge,” and he encouraged each new Opry band to adopt a comical homespun identity that would charm working-class listeners. In the process, he transformed bands like Dr. Humphrey Bate’s Augmented String Orchestra into the overall-clad Possum Hunters, and other groups into old-timey miners or clumsy farmhands. As the Great Depression began, Hay’s salt-of-the-earth approach charmed the audience, while WSM made several ingenious business decisions that shaped popular music forever. First, WSM did the unthinkable amid a hemorrhaging economy, investing a quarter of a million dollars—$5.8 million today—to build a new radio tower. It was the tallest in the country and one of only three 50,000-watt clear-channel towers in the United States. It allowed WSM’s broadcast to reach the whole nation. To bolster musicians, whose record sales were plummeting (down from $100 million in 1927 to a meager $6 million in 1932), WSM began sending bands on regional tours during the week, creating one of the country’s first talent agencies, the Artists Service Bureau. Soon, Opry stars were performing for as many as 12,000 people a day at schools or picnics Sunday through Friday, before hustling back to the Opry for their Saturday night radio gig.  In 1939, the Grand Ole Opry joined NBC’s radio network, transmitting the show to 125 stations. It wasn’t long before the Opry’s successes gained a big-time sponsor, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, maker of Camel cigarettes, which sponsored a USO-style tour starring several Opry stars. Called the Grand Ole Opry Camel Caravan, the troupe appeared exclusively for military members at bases throughout the U.S. and Central America during the summer of 1941, charming soldiers with toe-tapping hillbilly music and comedy from Minnie Pearl. A few months later, following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, millions of those same soldiers were now crooning the Opry’s songs on troopships and in overseas barracks as they deployed in World War II.  Dolly Parton, a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 56 years, first performed on its legendary stage at age 10. Courtesy of Grand Ole Opry Archives The show’s new popularity among soldiers spurred the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) to add the Grand Ole Opry to its overseas broadcast in 1943, transmitting the Opry’s weekly show to 306 outlets in 47 countries. By 1945, an AFRS station in Munich reported that Opry superstar Roy Acuff was more popular among its listeners than Frank Sinatra. The show even triumphed in the Pacific Theater, where famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle reported that during the Battle of Okinawa, Japanese troops were chanting, “To hell with Roosevelt, to hell with Babe Ruth, and to hell with Roy Acuff!”  In 1943, the Opry moved into the Ryman Auditorium, the city’s largest venue at the time. And still, the Saturday night showcase—featuring up-and-coming stars like Hank Williams and, later, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn—sold out each week. It wasn’t until 1974 that the Opry finally moved into its current home, the 4,440-seat Grand Ole Opry House.  Today, the Grand Ole Opry has spent nearly 100 years as a country tastemaker, elevating stars like George Jones, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash and hundreds more. Thanks to this hardy institution, and contributions by crossover artists like Beyoncé, country music continues to dominate the streaming charts and in 2023 was declared the fastest-growing genre in popular music. As country singer and Opry member Brad Paisley put it, “Pilgrims travel to Jerusalem to see the Holy Land and the foundations of their faith. People go to Washington, D.C. to see the workings of government and the foundation of our country. And fans flock to Nashville to see the foundation of country music, the Grand Ole Opry.” Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine now for just $19.99 This article is a selection from the June 2025 issue of Smithsonian magazine A Family Affair The Opry thrives on a network of stars invited to join its ranks. Here are four of the longest-serving members By Teddy BrokawBill Monroe — Member for 56 years Courtesy of Grand Ole Opry Archives It’s often been said that if there were a Mount Rushmore of the Opry, Bill Monroe’s face would be featured. In 1938, the mandolinist formed the Blue Grass Boys, a group so essential in the development of the style that it would ultimately give the genre its name. So popular was the group’s music on the weekly radio program that the show’s manager once told Monroe, “If you ever leave the Opry, you’ll have to fire yourself!” Monroe, who died in 1996, helped launch the careers of other Opry legends like Flatt and Scruggs, and also inspired trailblazers far beyond the country music world: Elvis covered his “Blue Moon of Kentucky”; and Jerry Garcia traveled with Monroe’s tour before forming the Grateful Dead. Jeannie Seely — Member for 57 years Courtesy of Grand Ole Opry Archives From the time she was tall enough to reach the dial of the family radio, Jeannie Seely had dreams of the Grand Ole Opry. After a series of hits in her signature “country soul” style, Seely was inducted into the Opry at age 27. She pushed its boundaries from the outset, helping to bring down the “gingham curtain”—the show’s requirement that female performers wear long dresses—by refusing to comply unless the rules were enforced on the audience as well. Seely repaid the Opry with a devotion that persists today, holding the record for appearances with over 5,000. When the Opry House flooded and waters destroyed Seely’s home in 2010, she still performed—in borrowed clothes. Loretta Lynn — Member for 60 years Courtesy of Grand Ole Opry Archives For six decades, Loretta Lynn, the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” constantly propelled the genre forward. Her hardscrabble upbringing in Kentucky, immortalized in her autobiography and its film version (starring Sissy Spacek as Lynn in an Oscar-winning role), seemed to drive her unapologetic approach to music. Hits like “The Pill,” which in 1975 stood as one of the first songs to tackle the use of birth control, nearly caused her to be banned from the Opry. A defiant Lynn played “The Pill” three times during one Opry show and told media, “If they hadn’t let me sing the song, I’d have told them to shove the Grand Ole Opry!” Lynn died in 2022. Bill Anderson — Member for 63 years Courtesy of Grand Ole Opry Archives The longest-tenured member of the Opry, “Whispering Bill” Anderson began his adult life on an entirely different path, turning down an offer to attend the Chicago Cubs training camp as a pitching prospect to attend the University of Georgia. As a journalism student there, Anderson availed himself of a half-built college television studio to record “City Lights,” which quickly became a smash hit for country star Ray Price in 1958. Anderson followed that success with tracks of his own. Now in his seventh decade with the show, he still performs at the Opry and continues to release music. Lately, his biggest hits have come from collaborations with other artists, as with “Whiskey Lullaby,” a 2003 double-platinum hit co-written with Jon Randall for Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss.  Get the latest Travel & Culture stories in your inbox.

I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years, from laptops to smart rings to the kind of random tech accessories that get buried in drawers. But out of all of it, there are just a few items I keep reaching for over and over again. There is no method to the madness in terms of the type of accessories, but just know that they work. These are non-Apple tech products I rely on every day. Be sure to check out our hands-on video below! Logitech Anywhere 3S/2S This is my longest-tenured product and the product that sparked this idea. I have tried so many different mice for my Mac and iPad, and I continue to come back to Logitech’s Anywhere mouse. The one I have is the 2S version that I purchased back in 2018. So, I have used this mouse every day for over seven years, and it is still going strong. Since 2018, they have released the 3S version, but the main difference is that the new version charges via USB-C, and it has double the DPI, going from 4000 to 8000 for better accuracy. But I have never been in a situation where my 2S is inaccurate. The Anywhere 2S is still on sale for just under $50, and the 3S is just under $80. Both great options that will last you a decade (if not more). Both can connect to three different devices at once and a charge last up to 6 months. ShiftCam accessories I use my iPhone for video and photography. While the iPhone 16 Pro Max video is great in its own right, I wanted to upgrade the camera a bit without actually getting a new camera. So I got myself a 60mm telephoto lens to help with the natural blur, and man, was I impressed. Go ahead and watch some of our recent videos, and you can see how much better the background is blurred versus me as the subject. They don’t just make lenses; they also make many other videography equipment for your iPhone, from MagSafe light attachments to camera grips to mounting gear and so much more. If you need to level up your iPhone photography, these are the way to go. Nomad is known for making some fantastic high-quality accessories: from their slim charging series, to their Horween leather, to their beloved Apple Watch bands. Earlier this year, they released their universal cable with built-in Apple Watch charging. I’ll be honest, I thought at first it was a bit over the top. But now its something that I never leave the house without when it comes to charging on the go. You get: 100W USB-C PD cable Apple Watch Fast Charger Kevlar reinforcement Electroplated metal connectors 1.5m length Integrated cable tie USB 2.0 data transfer speeds It’s high quality, simple, to the point, and smart charges. So it knows which direction to charge depending on what device needs power from the post. UltraHuman Smart Ring This product deserves its own full review, but I wanted to mention it here briefly. I love gamifying my health and tracking my wellness data. I had always been intrigued by the ring form factor versus a watch, especially for sleep tracking. I love my Apple Watch Ultra, but it is a tad bulky for sleeping. So the UltraHuman ring has really stepped in as my overall wellness tracker. I use it for daily wellness tracking, for sleep, and also for my runs. The best part is that there is no subscription plan. So, a one-time purchase of $349 and you are good to go. The app also has all the data and metrics you would ever want from a sleep score to caffeine intake windows and so much more. Let me know if you would like a more in-depth review of this ring because I cant recommend it enough! Kuxiu X41Q One of my favorite charging accessories brands released a 3 in 1 charger that seems to defy physics. On the surface it might seem like a typical Qi2 3 in 1 charger but this thing is insanely slim and compact. I measures under 4mm at its thinnest point! Qi2 wireless charging to charge at 15W 5W AirPods charging pad Fast charging Apple Watch charger 45W charging brick in the box I just love how thin this charger is and, for the price, it belongs in your everyday carry! SSD storage When it comes to storage, I always seem to go back to two different options. I have a Lexar SL500 and a Samsung T9. Both are fantastic storage options that are relatively the same price, depending on storage sizes. They both go up to 4 TBs and have read and write speeds of 2000 Mbps. I have used these daily for over a year, and they have been the most reliable options for SSD I have ever used. I have lost data by using cheap SSDs in the past, and having that peace of mind is key when using a storage solution. You can get the Samsung T9 for less $130 for the 1TB version and the Lexar SL500 for under $115 for 1TB! Final thoughts None of these products are flashy; they’re just reliable, functional, and built to last. That’s why they’ve earned a spot in my everyday tech setup. Whether you are editing video, charging up on the go, or tracking sleep without subscriptions, these tech items will be perfect to add to anyone’s tech toolkit. If you have a tech essential of your own, I’d love to hear about it. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel