Vastkind uses only public sources or named, attributable sources whose identity and claims can be checked. It does not use anonymous, confidential, or untraceable sources.
Acceptable sources
Depending on the claim, acceptable sources can include peer-reviewed research, preprints with their status made clear, official records, legislation and regulatory material, court documents, company filings, technical documentation, datasets, standards, direct statements from identifiable people or organizations, and credible reporting that names or clearly attributes its evidence.
Source hierarchy and independence
Primary evidence is preferred when it is available and intelligible. Secondary reporting can provide context, independent verification, or access to facts that cannot be obtained directly. Company announcements, investor materials, product demonstrations, and sponsored research are treated according to their incentives and limitations. A link does not turn a claim into proof.
Multiple reports repeating the same announcement do not provide multiple independent confirmations. When an important claim rests on a company's account and independent verification is unavailable, the article must make that clear.
Verification and attribution
A source must support the specific claim attached to it. Material factual claims are checked for date, scope, method, and relevant caveats. Sources are attributed clearly enough for readers to identify and examine them. Links belong close to the claims they support; a source list can provide additional context.
The status of the evidence matters. Articles identify preprints as preprints, distinguish research in animals from research in people, and attribute manufacturer benchmarks or performance claims to their source. Where Vastkind publishes its own observations or measurements, the article explains how they were obtained and the limits of the result.
For medical, health, financial, legal, safety, or security-related claims, the standard of evidence and caution is higher. An abstract, press release, or summary must not be presented as though the full underlying study or document has been examined.
Generative AI
Generative AI output is never evidence, authority, or a source. It may assist research organization or drafting, but any factual claim it produces must be verified against acceptable sources before publication.
Source changes and corrections
If a source is corrected, withdrawn, materially changed, or contradicted by stronger evidence, Vastkind reassesses the affected claim and updates the article when necessary. Material changes are explained in the article under the Editorial Standards.
Source concerns can be sent to social@vastkind.com. Include the article link, the claim, and the source you would like us to examine.