The Economist explains: The problem with scientific publishing | The Economist

"If these reforms are taken up, they could improve and accelerate science. More importantly, it would help health agencies respond more quickly to epidemics and speed the development of new treatments, for example. That could save lives. "Whereas there is nothing more necessary for promoting the improvement of Philosophical Matters, than the communication of such." So began the first issue of the world’s first scientific journal, Philosophical Transactions, on March 6th, 1665. Those words remain true. Journal publication, however, is no longer the best way of achieving that aim."