Peer review being so widespread and regarded as necessary is remarkably recent, and it's not at all clear that it's necessary or terribly effective for science.

Peer review being so widespread and regarded as necessary is remarkably recent, and it's not at all clear that it's necessary or terribly effective for science. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/information-culture/the-birth-of-modern-peer-review/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/information-culture/the... has some indications that peer reviewers generally don't do a great job.