The Science Game: Who Wins and Who Loses?

In the world of science, it's not just about the discovery—it's about who profits from it. Journals, the gatekeepers of scientific knowledge, often prioritize their own gains. Authors, who spend countless hours on research, face a harsh reality: they must pay to play. This comes in the form of article processing charges (APCs) or buying their own published work later. But authors aren't the only ones getting a raw deal. Reviewers, who meticulously evaluate and improve manuscripts, often get nothing in return. No free PDFs, no thanks, just a time-consuming task that enhances someone else's work. It's like being a volunteer in a system that's designed to make money. This system raises some big questions. Why should those who contribute most to science be the ones who pay or work for free? And who really benefits from this setup—the journals or the scientific community?