How new article types help make science more reproducible

Science has become more collaborative, more computational and more data intensive in recent years. However, a study suggests that 80% of the original data obtained through publicly-funded research is lost within two decades of publication. Moreover, researchers often duplicate work that has already been done. Unfortunately, traditional journals don’t give enough space to thoroughly describe datasets or the methods or software used to generate them. To address this concern, Elsevier has launched a series of peer reviewed journals under the Research Elements Program that makes it possible to publish data, software, materials and methods and other elements of the research cycle in a brief article format.