Fact-Checking Policy

Scientific accuracy is the foundation of BioExplorer’s credibility. We have been cited in peer-reviewed journals indexed on PubMed Central, referenced by Oxford University Press, and used as a source by The Washington Post and CBS News precisely because readers and researchers trust the accuracy of our content. This page describes exactly how we verify the facts in every article we publish.

Our Fact-Checking Principle

Every factual claim published on BioExplorer must be verifiable against at least one authoritative primary source before it is published. We do not publish claims based on assumption, common knowledge, or secondary sources that cannot be traced back to original research.

What We Fact-Check

Fact-checking applies to all content on BioExplorer including:

  • Species biology, behavior, diet, habitat, and lifespan data
  • Conservation status and population estimates
  • Taxonomic classification and nomenclature
  • Scientific history claims and attribution of discoveries
  • Statistical data and quantitative biological claims
  • Medical or health-adjacent biological information
  • Ecological relationships and food chain data

Primary Sources We Use

Our writers verify claims against the following authoritative sources:

  • For species data: IUCN Red List, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan), and peer-reviewed zoological, botanical, and ecological journals.
  • For conservation data: WWF Living Planet Reports, IUCN Species Survival Commission assessments, CITES Appendices, and published conservation biology research.
  • For cell biology, genetics, and microbiology: PubMed Central / National Library of Medicine, Nature, Science, Cell, and other peer-reviewed journals in the relevant specialty.
  • For taxonomy: Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), Catalogue of Life, and specialist taxonomic literature for the relevant group.
  • For historical and biographical claims: Published scientific biographies, institutional archives, peer-reviewed history of science literature, and documented primary records.

Our Fact-Checking Process

Step 1 — Source identification Before writing, every BioExplorer writer identifies the primary sources that will support the article’s key claims. Writers are required to consult at least one primary source for every significant factual claim.

Step 2 — Claim verification Each factual claim is checked against the identified source before it is included in the draft. If a source cannot be found to substantiate a claim, the claim is either removed or qualified with appropriate uncertainty language.

Step 3 — Editorial cross-check Our editorial team reviews the submitted draft against its cited sources. Claims that are not clearly supported by the cited source are flagged and returned to the writer for revision or removal.

Step 4 — Source linking Where possible, factual claims link directly to the primary source so readers can verify the information independently. For paywalled journal articles, we link to the abstract or DOI.

Step 5 — Post-publication monitoring BioExplorer articles are periodically reviewed for accuracy as new science is published. When a significant finding updates or contradicts a published claim, we update the article accordingly.

What We Do Not Accept as Sources

  • Wikipedia or Wikimedia projects as primary sources
  • General interest websites without cited scientific backing
  • Anecdotal or unattributed claims
  • AI-generated content presented as factual
  • Press releases without the underlying research
  • Social media posts

Corrections

Despite our process, errors occasionally occur. When a factual error is identified by our team or reported by a reader, we investigate promptly. Verified errors are corrected and the article is updated with a note. Our full process is described in our Corrections Policy.

Report a Factual Error

If you believe a specific factual claim on BioExplorer is inaccurate, we want to know. Please use our contact page and include:

  • The URL of the article containing the error
  • The specific claim you believe is inaccurate
  • The source that contradicts it, if available

We review all accuracy reports and respond to serious concerns.

See also: our Editorial Standards and Review Process.

Last reviewed: May 2026