Slab,

Yeah, too short of an answer. Science doesn't really advance when false or deliberately deceptive information is used, but it can "appear" to advance. I was more focused on the self-correcting part, in that it's just a matter of time before other investigators, through independent research, or trying to replicate the deceiver's research, will discover the truth. Science, like most things, experiences setbacks, but the over-all steady trend is progress toward the truth.

Sg