How a Scientific Journal Bridges Physics and Biology
What happens when you apply the precise laws of physics to the complex, often messy world of biology? This fascinating intersection represents the exciting domain of biophysics—a field that uses physics' concepts and techniques to unravel biological mysteries.
At the heart of this scientific frontier lies Biophysical Reviews, a journal that has spent over a decade fostering global scientific dialogue and driving innovation. But how did this journal evolve into the influential publication it is today? The story involves strategic vision, international collaboration, and a series of innovations that transformed how scientists communicate their discoveries.
Advanced methods bridging physical measurement and biological systems
International networks of researchers sharing knowledge and resources
Strategic approaches to scientific communication and knowledge dissemination
In the spring of 2009, a significant partnership emerged between the International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) and the publisher Springer (now Springer Nature). Together, they launched Biophysical Reviews as a new platform for scientific exchange, replacing the former Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics as IUPAB's official journal 1 .
This new journal defined biophysics as "the science of examining biological phenomena using the concepts and techniques of physics" 1 . Its scope was deliberately broad, encompassing everything from molecular and macromolecular biophysics to medical biophysics, single-molecule studies, and computational approaches 1 . This wide-ranging coverage reflected the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of scientific research, where boundaries between traditional disciplines were becoming increasingly blurred.
2009: Biophysical Reviews launched as the official journal of IUPAB, replacing Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics 1 .
Launch of Biophysical Reviews as IUPAB's official journal in partnership with Springer 1 .
First special issue on "Computational Biophysics" highlighting opportunities in developing economies 1 .
Appointment of Prof. Cris dos Remedios as Editor-in-Chief and strategic reorganization 1 .
The journal's development entered a new phase in 2015 with the appointment of Professor Cris dos Remedios as Editor-in-Chief. A Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Medicine and honorary Professor in Physics at the University of Sydney, dos Remedios brought over 45 years of research experience to the role 1 .
His appointment marked the beginning of significant structural changes. The editorial board was reorganized, replacing four former Associate Editors with five Executive Editors strategically distributed across the globe 1 . This international team—based in the USA, Japan, India, Australia, and The Netherlands—ensured the journal truly reflected the global nature of scientific inquiry 1 .
Their mission was clear: identify expert authors, arrange timely manuscript reviews, and make final publication decisions 1 .
Systematic approach to identifying leading researchers in specialized fields
Efficient peer-review process ensuring rapid publication of high-quality research
Editorial team strategically located across five continents for diverse perspectives
Perhaps the most impactful innovation in the journal's evolution was the strategic emphasis on themed special issues. Early trials revealed that focused special issues attracted significantly more citations than regular reviews 1 . This made intuitive sense—readers interested in specific topics like human heart failure were more likely to find, read, and cite papers from a dedicated collection 1 .
This discovery led to a formalized approach beginning in 2015, with the commitment to publish two special issues annually 1 . This strategy not only increased the journal's scientific impact but also fostered unique collaborations. The 2015 Special Issue on "Biophysics of Human Heart Failure," for instance, brought together researchers who had all worked on samples from the Sydney Heart Bank 1 . Many contributors met physically for the first time at a conference on Heron Island, Queensland, where they could directly compare results from the same patient samples 1 .
| Year | Special Issue Theme | Focus Area | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Computational Biophysics | Research opportunities in developing economies | Highlighted how computation and internet access could expand global scientific participation 1 |
| 2013 | Protein-Ligand Interactions | Tribute to Allen Minton's 70th birthday | Largest issue assembled at that time with 17 reviews 1 |
| 2014 | Latin American Biophysics | Success of biophysics in Latin America | Saluted establishment of the Latin American Federation of Biophysical Societies 1 |
| 2015 | Biophysics of Human Heart Failure | Human heart samples from Sydney Heart Bank | United researchers working on same samples for direct comparison 1 |
| 2015 | Role of Protein Dynamics | Protein dynamics in allosteric effects | Explored how ligands change protein function without direct contact 1 |
| 2025 | LAFeBS Special Issue | Latin American biophysics research | 34 review articles showcasing regional research diversity 6 |
We can view the journal's strategic pivot toward special issues as a fascinating experiment in scientific publishing itself. Let's examine this strategic shift through the lens of the scientific method.
The editors hypothesized that focused, thematic collections would attract more readers and citations than disparate individual papers 1 .
Beginning in 2015, the journal committed to publishing two special issues annually, each edited by experts in specific subfields 1 .
Regular issues continued alongside special issues, allowing for comparative assessment of impact 1 .
Citation rates and download statistics were tracked to quantify the strategy's success 1 .
The outcomes were clear and compelling. Special issues consistently outperformed regular issues in citation metrics 1 . The 2013 Special Issue on protein-ligand interactions, for instance, showed "pleasingly high" citation rates that confirmed the value of the approach 1 . This success demonstrated that scientific communication could be optimized through thoughtful curation of related content.
| Metric | Before Special Issue Emphasis | After Special Issue Emphasis | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Special Issues | Occasional, irregular | Two scheduled per year | Increased structure and predictability 1 |
| Citation Rates | Standard for individual reviews | Higher for special issue articles | Demonstrated enhanced scientific impact 1 |
| Geographic Representation | Limited | Global participation | Enhanced diversity of perspectives 1 6 |
| Collaboration | Individual papers | Themed collections with multiple contributors | Fostered scientific communities around topics 1 |
The research published in Biophysical Reviews relies on sophisticated methodologies that enable scientists to probe biological systems. These tools form the essential "research reagent solutions" for advancing the field.
| Method/Technique | Function | Application Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Optical Tweezers | Measures protein-folding free energy changes | Studying mechanical properties of biomolecules 6 |
| Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) | Studies topography and mechanical properties of living cells | Investigating cardiac cells in disease states 6 |
| Coarse-Grained Modeling | Simplifies complex biological molecules for simulation | Exploring folding dynamics of polymers and proteins 6 |
| Molecular Dynamics | Simulates physical movements of atoms and molecules | Studying viral particles and membrane transport 6 |
| Fluorescence Spectroscopy | Tracks molecular interactions and conformational changes | Analyzing protein folding and phase transitions 6 |
| Phasor Analysis | Processes fluorescence data | Studying protein interactions and lipid mixtures 6 |
The journal's evolution reflects the increasingly global nature of science. The 2025 Special Issue highlighting the Latin American Federation of Biophysical Societies (LAFeBS) featured 34 review articles from countries including Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and Venezuela—nearly doubling the contribution from their previous special issue 6 . This expansion demonstrated the journal's commitment to showcasing diverse scientific perspectives beyond traditional research hubs.
The journal's publisher also underwent significant transformation during this period. In 2015, Springer merged with Macmillan Science and Education to form Springer Nature, creating a powerful new entity with almost 13,000 staff and a turnover of 1.5 billion Euros 1 . This strategic acquisition provided enhanced scale and distribution capabilities that benefited publications like Biophysical Reviews 1 .
As Professor dos Remedios noted, the enhanced scale and distribution capabilities of the publication's platform "bodes well for the continuing success of Biophysical Reviews" 1 .
The story of Biophysical Reviews illustrates how scientific communication must continually adapt to serve an evolving research landscape. Through strategic editorial leadership, innovative special issues, and a commitment to global representation, the journal has cemented its role as a vital bridge between physics and biology.
The journal's journey reminds us that scientific progress depends not only on discoveries themselves, but on how effectively we share and contextualize those discoveries with the global community. In our increasingly interconnected scientific world, this mission remains as important as ever.