You Can Judge a Journal by Its Cover

Abstract

It is now more than 12 months since Current Biology joined the ranks of prestigious journals published by Cell Press. Our main priority throughout this transatlantic transition was to ensure that the quality and presentation of the science in Current Biology was maintained, even as virtually every other aspect of the journal's operations was overhauled. We have come through this move stronger than ever, with a new editorial presence and production team based at Cell Press in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while the editorial nucleus remains in London.In celebration of this move, we feel the time has come to introduce a few changes to the journal itself. Regular readers of Current Biology may notice a subtle change in the outward appearance of the journal. Gone from the front cover are the familiar green stripe and the exhaustive listing of the issue's contents. In its place, a bolder, more exciting format in the tradition of other Cell Press journals. Inside, the format of the research papers, dispatches, and the magazine section has been thoroughly redesigned, providing another indication of the integration of Current Biology into Cell Press and a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.What has not changed is our commitment to publishing the best papers across the whole spectrum of biology. This is superbly illustrated by our cover story in this issue—two papers on pages 1 and 13 from Angus Lamond and colleagues on the proteome of the human nucleolus, discussed in an accompanying dispatch by Greg Matera and Jason Ospina (see page R29). These papers are indicative of the broadening contemporary reach of Current Biology, which has long enjoyed a strong reputation in fields such as cell biology, evolutionary biology, and systems neuroscience, and is now consistently attracting the same high quality of submissions from other segments of the biology community. Among many examples that could be mentioned are recent exciting papers in areas as far-flung as plant biology (a paper on the establishment of plant organ polarity in our 21 August issue [1xEshed, Y, Baum, S.F, Perea, J.V, and Bowman, J.L. Curr. Biol. 2001; 11: 1251–1260Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (346)See all References][1]), mammalian genetics (the timely report on the genetic basis of anthrax susceptibility in our 2 October issue [2xWatters, J.W, Dewar, K, Lehoczky, J, Boyartchuk, V, and Dietrich, W.F. Curr. Biol. 2001; 11: 1503–1511Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (70)See all References][2]), and bioinformatics (the identification of a multitude of genes for novel small RNAs in the Escherichia coli genome [3xArgaman, L, Hershberg, R, Vogel, J, Bejerano, G, Wagner, E.G, Margalit, H, and Altuvia, S. Curr. Biol. 2001; 11: 941–950Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (479)See all References][3]). As we hurtle toward a new era of postgenomic multidisciplinary “systems” biology, there is a greater need than ever for a broad, comprehensive approach to biomedical research. Current Biology is only too happy to meet that challenge.Not only is Current Biology revelling in its broader coverage of biology, but we are also attracting more papers than ever before. In 2001, Current Biology received a record volume of manuscripts, which we attribute in part to a more prominent editorial profile in the United States and the increased visibility afforded by Cell Press. Author feedback indicates that our expeditious handling of manuscripts is also a contributory factor: Current Biology relies extensively on its popular presubmission enquiry system, which greatly benefits authors and editors alike. (Authors interested in learning the suitability of a manuscript for Current Biology are encouraged to send a brief summary via email at cbiol@current-biology.com; we endeavor to respond to all inquiries within 24–48 hr.)In its new, exciting format, Current Biology will continue to present its traditional blend of high-quality original research with stimulating review, commentary, and analysis. Each issue still features a selection of popular dispatches—short accessible commentaries that appraise and discuss newly published papers from Current Biology and elsewhere. The magazine section presents a variety of news and media analysis from an international group of correspondents. And we continue to offer a rich variety of review material, in the form of Primers, Quick Guides, and full-length Reviews, providing an invaluable information resource at a time of growing interdisciplinary research.For our regular readers, we trust you will enjoy the new look of Current Biology. For those of you picking up Current Biology for the first time, we hope our new format—not to mention our more affordable subscription price—provides added incentive to peruse the journal's contents…and judge for yourself!