Disinformation permeates science through individuals, organizations, and
governments that manipulate scholarly communication, media, and institutions.
This new taxonomy provides a framework and language to explain the actors,
outlets, and methods. For example, scholars recently published misinformation
about COVID-19 vaccines in a peer-reviewed journal. Now retracted, an author
reposted the debunked claims as legitimate research on their website. This case
demonstrates how the credibility of a professor's website can be exploited to
introduce falsehoods, and how bad actors circumvent corrections. With clarity
on the nature and flow of scientific disinformation, journalists and
policymakers can better identify and respond.Comment: 10 pages, 3 table