Apparently one of the researchers modified some of the data on the sly. He got his collaborators to fall for it, and they published it.
Had I been tricked by a collaborator into publishing a paper with my name on it that was based on fraudulent data, I would have beaten him to within a micron of his life. I would much rather be defrauded of every dollar I ever earned.
I can understand that. I work for scientists and nothing is more important to them than their scientific integrity/credibility.
"He who steals my purse steals trash.....but he who steals my good name leaves me very poor indeed."