A scientific journal has removed two papers written by physicist Max Planck in the 1940s, citing copyright violations. Historians who uncovered the retractions say the move distorts the historical record and call for the papers to be restored.
The journal Naturwissenschaften, now called The Science of Nature, withdrew the papers without explanation beyond a note about article violation. The documents no longer appear in the archive, replaced by blank pages.
Historians Yves Gingras and Mahdi Khelfaoui traced the retractions to around 2005, when many journals moved content online. They believe an automated system flagged the works as duplicates under modern rules that did not apply in Planck’s era.
Current editor-in-chief Suzanne Scarlata said the action was likely an algorithmic error. Publisher Springer Nature declined to comment and blocked an editorial addressing the issue.
Both papers are now in the public domain. Gingras urged the journal to restore them, stating that their removal is intellectually unacceptable.
