Fifteen years ago there was an exciting paper about bacteria that could use Arsenic instead of Phosphorous, which was thitherto thought to be an essential ingredient to life and DNA.

Via Periodic Videos I just watched this fascinating interview with one of the authors about the recent retraction of the paper - not because there was misconduct or a major error, but because it turned out to be "likely wrong" and "exaggerated" in the interpretation of the data.

I think the authors are right in protesting this new, impossible to meet, retroactive standard. It is part of the scientific process to be wrong. Going back and retracting parts of the history is counterproductive.

Much more info and nuance in the interview - highly recommended!