ScienceBlogs, we have a problem

Much consternation over at the home of science blogging, ScienceBlogs. The forum for the brilliant Orac, Pharynula, Molecule of the Day, and countless other insightful, funny and informative blogs has decided upon a bizarre new strategy in sourcing new posts. As of yesterday, the platform will host a new blog written by food giant PepsiCo, all about the company’s specialist subject of refreshing sugary drinks and their benefits for dental and dietary health.

Sorry, no, PepsiCo’s scientific staff will be writing about nutrition on the new Food Frontiers blog. I’ll give you a moment to get back on your chair.

They also host several of my favorite physics-y blogs, though I’ve only seen action-reaction (as of writing this) from The Quantum Pontiff, who is leaving, but mostly for other reasons and Science After Sunclipse, who is also eclipsing.

I can’t see this as anything but an advertising platform for a corporation. Which raises the question — will Scienceblogs be paying Pepsi to blog there, (as is the arrangement I expect it has with the rest of its bloggers) or is it the other way around? If it’s the former, why would you bother? Is this a Pepsi blogging juggernaut that they’ve assimilated? If it’s the latter, and the article implies that this is the case, then the sellout is blatantly obvious. Krusty, what were you thinking?