A peer-reviewed study released on 4 August 2025 finds that organized networks of “paper mills” are now producing fraudulent scientific papers at a pace that outstrips legitimate research output. The authors analyzed thousands of publications and mapped connections among authors, journal editors, commercial brokers and publishing platforms. The investigation concludes that the fraud ecosystem extends beyond paper mills to include intermediaries who place fabricated manuscripts in reputable journals, often by infiltrating editorial boards. Publishers are struggling to identify and retract bogus work as quickly as it appears, the study warns, undermining confidence in the scientific record. Researchers from institutions including Northwestern University traced suspicious citation patterns across outlets such as PNAS and PLOS ONE, highlighting how coordinated manipulation can evade conventional peer-review safeguards. The authors call for expanded use of automated screening tools, greater data transparency and stronger sanctions against complicit actors to protect research integrity.