Scientific publication goes through a peer review process. After submission of an article, a journal editor invites experts (reviewers) to comment on it and provide informed advice on the opportunity of publication. Most reviewers do not sign. In many journals, authors are anonymous as well but, in my experience, this practice is less pervasive. Anonymity on the part of the reviewer is supposed to preserve objectivity. The reviewer may indeed be biased by fear of punishment for unfavorable reviews or hope of rewards from favorable ones. The author's anonymity is meant to prevent evaluations on the basis of factors that are irrelevant to his or her work.
