From theory to bench confirmation or from bench to theory

In this commentary, the authors discuss two possible approaches in experimental studies. The first approach is to replicate an experimentation in order to confirm or not previously published results. The second one is more theoretical and consists in estimating the expected effect of all the components of the problem. When theoretical calculations suggest a theoretical failure that contradicts previous published results, investigators are between a rock and a hard place. Indeed, how can already published data and theoretical likelihood of failure be reconciled?