One of the most prestigious scientific research journals in the world has implemented a new online system for peer review. Nature, which has been publishing for 136 years, will allow authors who want to participate in its experiment to post their papers online and invite professionals in the applicable field to submit comments on them. The new system is being offered in addition to the traditional article submission and peer-review process. While lay readers can also view the submitted articles, Nature's Web site explains that postings are only for scientists in the particular discipline. These scientists must list their names and the e-mail address of their institution. Editors at Nature filter out any postings they find to be irrelevant or inappropriate in any way. The submitted papers also work their way through the traditional peer-review process, and Nature will consider both online and offline comments when deciding upon whether or not to publish a paper. To date, there have been 70 posts on the 62 papers submitted by authors on the Web site, says Linda Miller, United States executive editor of Nature. Nature's experiment shows the way the scientific publishing industry is pushing the limits of the traditional peer-review system. Critics of the traditional system say it allows low-quality and even fraudulent papers to get through. Peer review is meant to screen out badly designed experiments and poorly considered conclusions.