About the Paper Plain Project
Mission
Science should not live behind a paywall or a barrier of jargon.
Science thrives on open communication of discoveries and theories. Nevertheless, traditional scientific papers are often written by experts, for experts, using language that can feel too complex for the untrained eye.
Paper Plain is a project that takes dense research papers and render them in plain English. I aim to convert scientific research into clear, narrative reports that prioritize intuition over intimidation, whilst upholding scientific integrity.
The goal is not to make science simple; is to make science accessible.
Audience
The Curious Mind For anyone who wants to understand the “how” and “why” without spending hours on a single enigmatic paper.
Students & Educators A resource for those looking for a clear glimpse into complex topics.
The Research Community A space for scientists to practice and promote scientific communication.
Anatomy of a Report
The reports mirror the structure of a scientific paper, but with narrative flow.
Key Takeaway
- A quick summary of the paper
The Mystery
- What we know
- What we don’t know
The Setup
- Their approach to the problem
- What we expect to find
- The tools and methods used
The Discovery
- What they actually found in the study
The Horizon
- So What?
- Reality Check (limitatoins)
- What to do with this new information
Jargon Decoder
At the end of each report you will find the Jargon Decoder. Use this to build your scientific vocabulary.
Read the Original Paper
Once you’ve taken a look at the report, consider reading the origipal paper. It’s one click away. All research articles used in this project are open access and available to all.