We explain a new article type that is being introduced in participating EGU publications. "LESSONS" articles describe the Limitations, Errors, Surprises, Shortcomings and Opportunities for New Science emerging from the scientific process. The publication of non-positive results and associated learnings aims to complete an unbiased record of the research effort, contributes to open and transparent science, allows the authors and others to learn, and may open opportunities for new science.
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Bespalov, A., Steckler, T., and Skolnick, P.: Be Positive about Negatives – Recommendations for the Publication of Negative (or Null) Results, Eur. Neuropsychopharmacol., 29, 1312–1320, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.10.007, 2019. a
Blanchard, E. and Dũng, L. T.: Papers Have Bugs – What Is to Be Done?, Undone Computer Science Conference, https://www.koliaza.com/assets/files/blanchard-2024-bugs.pdf (last access: 19 August 2026), 2024. a, b
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Blume, T., van Meerveld, I., and Weiler, M.: Why and When It Is Useful to Publish and Share Inconclusive Results and Failures: Reply to “Reporting Negative Results to Stimulate Experimental Hydrology”, Hydrol. Sci. J., 63, 1273–1274, https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2018.1493204, 2018. a
Brazil, R.: Illuminating “the Ugly Side of Science”: Fresh Incentives for Reporting Negative Results, Nature, Springer, https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01389-7, 2024. a, b
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Chambers, C.: What's next for Registered Reports?, Nature, 573, 187–189, https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-02674-6, 2019. a
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Chen, J., Su, Y., Li, Z., Ma, Z., and Shen, X.: Stripe Patterns in Wind Forecasts Induced by Physics-Dynamics Coupling on a Staggered Grid in CMA-GFS 3.0, Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 8253–8267, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8253-2025, 2025. a
Cranford, S.: Want for Nothing, Need for Null, Useful Output from Negative Results, Matter, 7, 1679–1683, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2024.04.005, 2024. a
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Echevarría, L., Malerba, A., and Arechavala-Gomeza, V.: Researcher's Perceptions on Publishing “Negative” Results and Open Access, Nucl. Acid Therapeut., 31, 185–189, https://doi.org/10.1089/nat.2020.0865, 2021. a
Emery, C., O'Donnel, C., and Dhand, R.: The State of Null Results – Insights from 11,000 Researchers on Negative or Inconclusive Results, White paper, Springer Nature, https://stories.springernature.com/the-state-of-null-results-white-paper/index.html (last access: 19 August 2026), 2025. a, b, c, d, e, f
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Fanelli, D.: Negative Results Are Disappearing from Most Disciplines and Countries, Scientometrics, 90, 891–904, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0494-7, 2012. a
Fanelli, D.: Positive Results Receive More Citations, but Only in Some Disciplines, Scientometrics, 94, 701–709, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-012-0757-y, 2013. a
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Hagenbeek, G. W., van Emmerik, T. H., Jia, T., Khamdahsag, P., Boonma, K., Taormina, R., Mani, T., and Rußwurm, M.: Exploring transferability of plastic-water hyacinth interaction and detection in rivers, Iscience, 29, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.116238, 2026. a
Hall, C. A., Saia, S. M., Popp, A. L., Dogulu, N., Schymanski, S. J., Drost, N., van Emmerik, T., and Hut, R.: A Hydrologist's Guide to Open Science, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 647–664, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-647-2022, 2022. a
Hannah, W., Pressel, K., Ovchinnikov, M., and Elsaesser, G.: Checkerboard Patterns in E3SMv2 and E3SM-MMFv2, Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 6243–6257, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-6243-2022, 2022. a
Hartmann, A. and Rath, V.: Uncertainties and Shortcomings of Ground Surface Temperature Histories Derived from Inversion of Temperature Logs, J. Geophys. Eng., 2, 299–311, https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/2/4/S02, 2005. a
Hauk, R., van Emmerik, T. H. M., van der Ploeg, M., de Winter, W., Boonstra, M., Löhr, A. J., and Teuling, A. J.: Macroplastic Deposition and Flushing in the Meuse River Following the July 2021 European Floods, Environ. Res. Lett., 18, 124025, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad0768, 2023. a
Kepes, S., Banks, G. C., and Oh, I.-S.: Avoiding Bias in Publication Bias Research: The Value of “Null” Findings, J. Business Psychol., 29, 183–203, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-012-9279-0, 2014. a
Kozlov, M.: So You Got a Null Result. Will Anyone Publish It?, Nature, 631, 728–730, https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02383-9, 2024. a
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Liaw, K.-L., Khomik, M., and Arain, M. A.: Explaining the Shortcomings of Log-Transforming the Dependent Variable in Regression Models and Recommending a Better Alternative: Evidence From Soil CO2 Emission Studies, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 126, e2021JG006238, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JG006238, 2021. a
Lofty, J., Rebai, D., Valero, D., and Franca, M.: The Shapes and Sizes of Macroplastics and Other Litter in Rivers, Earth ArXive, https://doi.org/10.31223/X5RX6T, 2025. a
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Emery et al. (2025) recommend to use “null results” instead of “negative results” to improve their perception, but as we believe that the association and attitude is the problem rather than a negative word itself, we use both interchangeably.