Summary:
- Preprints, or scientific papers that have not yet been peer-reviewed, are increasingly being reported on in the news media, leading to confusion among the public about their status and reliability.
- Preprints allow researchers to share their work quickly, but they have not undergone the rigorous peer-review process that is typical of published journal articles.
- Experts recommend that the public and journalists approach preprints with caution, as the findings they present may change or be refuted during the peer-review process.