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Science (journal)

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Science is a leading academic journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). It serves as a vital platform for sharing original research and reviews with the global community. Unlike many other scientific journals that focus on a single field, Science is multidisciplinary. This means it covers a vast range of scientific disciplines all in one place. The journal is currently based in the District of Columbia in the United States. It also maintains a second office in Cambridge, England. With an estimated readership of over 400,000 people, it is one of the most influential publications in the world.

Science, vol. 1, 1883, title page
Science, vol. 1, 1883, title page

The journal functions through a rigorous process to ensure the quality of its content. Most of its main focus is on publishing important original scientific research. It also provides research reviews, science-related news, and opinions on science policy. A key part of this process is peer review. This is a system where experts examine new research before it is published. This process is very competitive for researchers. Fewer than 7% of the articles submitted to the journal are actually accepted for publication. Getting published in such a highly cited journal can lead to significant career advancement for authors.

Science has a complex and interesting history that began in the late 19th century. It was founded in 1880 by a New York journalist named John Michels. He received financial support from Thomas Edison and later from Alexander Graham Bell. However, the journal struggled to find enough subscribers and stopped publishing in March 1882. Alexander Graham Bell and Gardiner Greene Hubbard eventually bought the rights to the magazine. They hired an entomologist named Samuel H. Scudder to bring the journal back to life one year later.

Science, vol. 1, 1883, title page
Science, vol. 1, 1883, title page

The journal underwent several changes in ownership and leadership over the next century. In 1894, the publication faced financial difficulties again and was sold to psychologist James McKeen Cattell. Through an agreement between Cattell and AAAS secretary Leland O. Howard, Science became the official journal of the AAAS in 1900. After Cattell died in 1944, the AAAS took over ownership. In 1958, under the leadership of editor Graham DuShane, the journal absorbed The Scientific Monthly. This merger was significant because it grew the circulation from 38,000 to more than 61,000.

Science, vol. 1, 1883, title page
Science, vol. 1, 1883, title page

Many groundbreaking scientific discoveries have been shared within its pages. During the early 20th century, the journal published work on fruit fly genetics by Thomas Hunt Morgan. It also featured papers on gravitational lensing by Albert Einstein and spiral nebulae by Edwin Hubble. In 2001, the journal published the Celera Genomics paper regarding the human genome. This happened at the same time that the journal Nature published the publicly funded Human Genome Project. The journal's impact is reflected in its 2024 impact factor, which was recorded at 45.8.

The journal has continued to grow and modernize under many different editors. Physicist Philip Abelson served as editor from 1962 to 1984 and improved the efficiency of the review process. During his time, the journal published reports on the Apollo program and early reports on AIDS. More recently, geophysicist Marcia McNutt expanded the family of journals. Under her leadership, the organization added Science Robotics, Science Immunology, and an open access journal called Science Advances. This expansion shows how the journal continues to adapt to new scientific fields.

Today, Science is an increasingly international publication. In 1992, slightly less than 20 percent of papers were internationally co-authored. By 2015, this number had risen to almost 60 percent. The journal also works to make science more accessible to everyone. It offers delayed open access, meaning research articles published after 1997 are free to read one year later. It also participates in programs like HINARI and Scidev.net to help readers in developing countries. Through these efforts, Science connects researchers and the public across the entire globe.

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