Rampant software errors undermine scientific results

Abstract

Errors in scientific results due to software bugs are not limited to a few high-profile cases that lead to retractions and are widely reported. Here I estimate that in fact most scientific results are probably wrong if data have passed through a computer, and that these errors may remain largely undetected. The opportunities for both subtle and profound errors in software and data management are boundless, yet they remain surprisingly underappreciated.