While materials science and engineering (MSE) has largely escaped the replication crisis that has plagued fields like psychology and cancer biology, a new form of image discrepancy has emerged. Users on postpublication peer review sites have flagged dozens of MSE articles where the scanning electron microscope (SEM) make and model stated in the text do not match the instrument metadata embedded in the published images.
This finding was presented at the 10th Peer Review Congress in September 2025. The misidentification raises questions about the rigor of image reporting and the potential for broader integrity issues in the field. The video recording of the presentation was posted on YouTube on April 30, 2026.
"The make and model of the scanning electron microscope listed in the text does not match the instrument’s metadata visible in the images in the published article."
The implications for reproducibility and trust in MSE research are significant, as SEM images are fundamental to many materials characterization studies.