Author Guidelines

Article Types

• Research article. Original research with your own data or analysis. 2,500 to 6,000 words.
• Review. A structured summary and evaluation of published research on a focused question. 2,500 to 6,000 words.
• Short communication. One focused result, reported briefly, using the research article structure.

We publish in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering, mathematics, the social sciences and related fields.

Templates

Our Word templates already have the right fonts, spacing, line numbers and page numbers, with instructions in each section.

Formatting Rules

• The title in title case: capitalize every major word, and lowercase articles, short conjunctions and prepositions (a, and, of, in, on, with) unless they come first or after a colon. For example: Effects of Moonlight on the Growth of Wall Moss. Keep the capitals of names, acronyms and terms such as DNA or mRNA as they are.
• 12-point font, double spaced, with 1-inch margins.
• Continuous line numbers and page numbers (reviewers refer to them).
• 2,500 to 6,000 words, not counting references.
• Abstract of 250 words or fewer; 3 to 6 keywords.
• SI units throughout.
• APA 7th edition for citations and references.

Structure

Research Articles and Short Communications

Title page, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgments, statements (conflict of interest, funding, use of AI tools), References.

Reviews

Title page, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Literature search, sections organized by theme, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgments, statements, References.

Figures and Tables

• Number figures and tables in the order they're first mentioned, each with a caption that explains it on its own.
• Figures must be at least 300 dpi with labeled axes and units. Upload each figure as a separate file as well as placing it in the manuscript.
• Report sample sizes and show uncertainty (error bars, standard deviations or confidence intervals).

References

Use APA 7th edition. Every source cited in the text must be in the reference list, and every reference must be cited. Never cite a source you haven't read, and check that every reference exists.

Removing Your Name for Double-Blind Review

Reviewers must not be able to tell who wrote the paper. Before you upload:

1. Remove your name, school, teacher or mentor, town, and email from the manuscript, headers and footers.
2. In Acknowledgments, write "[Removed for review]". Add your acknowledgments in the final version after acceptance.
3. Refer to your own earlier work in the third person ("Smith (2025) found...") rather than "In my earlier study...".
4. Remove your name from the file properties. In Word: File, then Info, then Check for Issues, then Inspect Document, then remove Document Properties and Personal Information. In Google Docs, downloading as .docx doesn't add your name.
5. Name the file by topic, not by person (for example, moss-growth.docx, not jane-smith-paper.docx).

Your name and details go only in the submission form, which reviewers never see.

Ethics and Required Statements

• Research with people or animals must be done under adult supervision or with institutional review board (IRB) approval, with signed consent forms where required. Say so in your Methods.
• Conflict of interest and funding: declare any interest that could affect the work, and any funding or paid research program.
• Use of AI tools: say which tools you used and for what. AI tools may not generate data, results or references, and cannot be listed as authors. See our AI use policy.
• Parent or guardian consent: authors under 18 need consent from a parent or guardian, who receives an email from us after you submit.

Originality and Plagiarism

Your paper must be original and your own work, with every source properly cited. When you submit, you confirm this, and you confirm that you're solely responsible for the paper's content (see the author warranties).

If plagiarism is found:

• The paper is rejected immediately.
• No fees are refunded.
• All authors are barred from submitting to the journal again.
• If the paper has already been published, it is publicly retracted, with a dated notice explaining why.

Revisions

• Every paper gets one round of revisions. The decision email lists every required change, numbered, under “Specific changes requested” in the reviewer report.
• Your revision must make every required change. Your response letter answers each one by its number and says exactly where in the paper the change was made.
• If you believe a requested change is wrong, say so in your response letter, with your reasons. The editor decides whether your explanation is accepted.
• The editor checks the revision against the numbered list. If any required change is missing or incomplete, the paper isn’t accepted in that round: the editor either asks for a second round of revisions, which moves the paper to the next issue, or rejects it.
• Whether a revision makes the required changes is the editor’s decision, and it is final.

A good response letter copies each numbered change from the report, then says what you changed and where (for example, "Methods, lines 112 to 130"), or why you didn't.

File Types

• First submission: PDF or Word (.docx), up to about 20 MB, plus separate figure files.
• Final version, after acceptance: Word (.docx) only.

Submission Checklist

• The paper follows the template's structure and the formatting rules above, with the title in title case.
• The abstract is 250 words or fewer, with 3 to 6 keywords.
• The manuscript and file properties contain no names or schools.
• Figures are uploaded separately at 300 dpi or more.
• Statements on conflicts of interest, funding and AI use are ready.
• For authors under 18: your parent or guardian's name and email.
• The paper is original and your own work, every source is cited, and it isn't published or under review anywhere else.
• All co-authors agree to the submission.
• You understand the fees: $30 to submit, and $175 only if accepted. Paying never guarantees acceptance.

Go to the submission form