 Hwang Woo-Suk
Hwang Woo-Suk first appeared on the world stage in 1999, announcing that his team had cloned a dairy cow. Curiously, this breakthrough was presented via press release rather than submission of scientific paper - a tell-tale sign of pseudoscience. Just two months later Hwang announced a second cloned cow, again providing only media sessions and photo-ops rather than any scientific evidence. After producing a string of genetically modified animals, Hwang grabbed the headlines again by announcing in the prestigious journal Science that his team had succeeded in creating human stem cells.
Hwang's successes in creating stem cells held the promise of curing or treating just about every disease ever invented, and probably some more that have yet to be invented. Hwang followed this up by creating the first ever cloned dog, a puppy called Snuppy. Just as Hwang was appointed to head the newly-created World Stem Cell Hub in 2005, the Korean investigative reporting tv show PD Su-Cheop ran a story on Hwang, questioning his ethical conduct with regard to acquiring the egg cells vital to his research, and the validity of his claims. Hwang commanded a huge popular following in Korea, and this criticism was perceived not only unpalatable but unpatriotic. PD Su-Cheop found themselves shelved as the show's sponsors withdrew support. Shortly after however, Hwang announced he was resigning from all official posts, stating "I was blinded by work and my drive for achievement" a sentiment echoed by various scientific rascals before him.
Hwang's skillful manipulation of the media ensured a national outpouring of sympathy, including candlelight vigils and rallies in support. Meanwhile, Seoul National University determined every one of Hwang's stem cell lines were fabricated, and that both papers submitted to Science had been fabricated. Science retracted the papers unconditionally. Hwang held a press conference and accused his co-workers of conspiring against him. Prosecutors raided his home for evidence after mounting a criminal investigation.
To this day Hwang maintains he can create stem cells and insists he is a victim of sabotage.
UPDATE 04/07/06: The BBC reports that Hwang accepted that he had "broad responsibility" for the deception. However, the article continues [Hwang] repeated a claim that the fabrications were the work of junior researchers. Read the full debaclé here.
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