Open Access

The University of California's boycott of academic-publishing giant Elsevier has open-access advocates pleased. Others have concerns about transparency.

Despite ethical fears over work being co-opted, the benefits of scientific cooperation are too big to keep avoiding.

Open access to research papers doesn't mean much to researchers, but the government hopes it'll serve a greater good.

So-called "open access" academic publishing saves money and has political backing. But is it a good idea?