Kuala Lampur, Sept. 7 -- Imagine spending months, perhaps even years, testing an idea. The experiment is carefully designed, samples are collected, and the data are painstakingly analysed. Expectations are understandably high. Perhaps the study will identify a promising new treatment, uncover a risk factor for disease, or confirm a relationship that scientists have long suspected.

Then the results come in. There is no significant difference. The treatment does not perform better than expected. The relationship you thought would appear in the data simply is not there. Has the research failed?

Not necessarily. In fact, such a result may be one of the most useful pieces of information that the research produces.

Scientific research usuall...