【明報專訊】An ''experiment'' was conducted to prove that boiled eggs could hatch after they were ''revived''. An academic journal published the paper of these findings ''without hesitation''. The article provoked a nationwide uproar after being discovered accidentally, and the authorities, with remarkable efficiency, shut down the journal and punished the editor. It is not uncommon in China to have a ''paper'' published with money. Government officials are well aware of the pay-to-publish culture, but they have long ignored the difficulty since it is systemic. However, if it is not resolved, the ambitious goal of rejuvenating the country with science and technology will be nothing but empty talk.