What Are Acceptable Scientific References?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion emphasizes the importance of using credible sources when citing scientific theories and published papers. A master journal list is provided, which includes a search engine for finding acceptable references based on various criteria. If a journal is not included in this list, the source must be verified as a peer-reviewed journal recognized by the academic community. While referencing material from news and media sources is acceptable, any obscure or new theories not considered common knowledge must be supported by published papers from the specified journals. For instance, if a claim is made about earthlights being caused by piezoelectric phenomena, it must be backed by a relevant published paper. Speculation with a scientific basis is allowed for discussion, but definitive explanations require proper citations from recognized sources.
Ivan Seeking
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If you follow this link you will find the master journal list at the bottom of the page. There is a search engine that allows one to search by a number of different criteria. This is a list of acceptable references when citing scientific theories and published papers. If a journal is not referenced here, the poster must demonstrate that the source is a peer-reviewed journal recognized by the mainstream academic community.

Obviously we reference material published in news and other media sources, but if a specific and obscure, new, or otherwise generally unknown theory [not common knowledge] is to be used as a scientific explanation for a phenomenon, then the theory must be found in a paper published in a journal listed at this link.
http://scientific.thomson.com/index.html

As an example: If it is to be argued that earthlights are caused by piezoelectric phenomena within the Earth's crust, then that theory would require a published paper as a source.
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
I should make it clear that as always, well cosidered speculation having a scientific basis is fine for the sake of discussion, but any "definitive" explanation citing a new theory requires a published paper.
 
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