FigShare

Scientific research activities generate a large amount of data, with most of it not ending up as part of a publication. Among the more common causes of this dilemma is a lack of significance, negative data or data that defy analysis. In numerous instances, even perfectly good data might not be able to withstand the gruelling process of peer review and is thus consigned to the record files. Electronic publishing is silently but surely bringing about a change in the way in which a traditional publication and the process is perceived. The amalgamation of the semantic web, cloud computing and social media sites has begun to make a difference in the manner in which scientists communicate, gather data or share the triumphs and tribulations of their research. A number of dedicated blogs and specialized groups on popular media networks are actively working toward bridging the gap between how science is visualised and the way it works in the real world.