What is the impact factor of Science?

Science has an impact factor of 45.8 (2024). This places it among the top-tier journals in its field with Science publishes original research of exceptional significance across all scientific disciplines.

How long does Science take to review?

Science typically takes ~14 days to first decision. The full review process involves 5 main stages: presubmission inquiry (optional), full submission, and peer review.

Is Science peer reviewed?

Yes, Science is fully peer reviewed. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by 2-3 reviewers assessing both validity and significance. May include reviewers from outside your immediate field..

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Science Impact Factor 45.8: Publishing Guide

Q: What is the acceptance rate of Science?

Science has an acceptance rate of <7%. A common reason for rejection is writing too long. Science has strict word and figure limits. If your story needs 8 figures to be complete, Science probably isn't the right venue. Save that for Cell or a specialty journal.

Q: What does Science look for in submissions?

Exceptional significance in fewer words: Science Research Articles max out at 3,000 words. Your story must be clear and complete within very tight constraints. This requires ruthless prioritization of what matters most.

Q: What should I know before submitting to Science?

Science is shorter and faster than Cell. If you have a complete but focused finding, Science's format may serve you better than Cell's exhaustive approach. Not every great paper needs 10 figures.

Concise, high-impact science for the AAAS flagship: where brevity meets breakthrough

45.8

Impact Factor (2024)

<7%

Acceptance Rate

~14 days to first decision

Time to First Decision

What Science Publishes

Science publishes original research of exceptional significance across all scientific disciplines. Like Nature, it emphasizes broad impact, but Science has shorter formats and a particular interest in work with policy relevance. If your finding matters for society, not just science, Science wants to hear about it.

Major advances that reshape understanding in any scientific field
Research with clear policy or societal implications
Exceptional clarity and accessibility to non-specialists
Definitive studies that resolve longstanding scientific questions
Breakthrough methods that enable new types of inquiry

Editor Insight

“Science values concision. The best Science papers make you feel like you've learned something important in 15 minutes of reading. If your story requires extensive background to appreciate, a specialty journal may actually serve it better.”

What Science Editors Look For

Exceptional significance in fewer words

Science Research Articles max out at 3,000 words. Your story must be clear and complete within very tight constraints. This requires ruthless prioritization of what matters most.

Broad relevance across science

A biologist, physicist, and social scientist should all find something interesting. Science readers span every discipline; pure specialist appeal won't cut it.

Societal and policy relevance

If your findings have implications for health policy, environmental regulation, technology ethics, or public welfare, Science wants to know. Make these connections explicit.

Reproducibility as a core value

Science has led initiatives on reproducibility. Open data, shared code, and transparent methods aren't optional. They're expected. Pre-registration is viewed favorably.

Immediate clarity

Your opening paragraph must hook readers across all sciences. Science has a magazine tradition; think accessible journalism backed by rigorous science.

Timeliness

Science moves faster than Cell. If your finding is time-sensitive (pandemic, climate, emerging technology), Science is often the better choice.

Why Papers Get Rejected

These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Science's editorial review:

Writing too long

Science has strict word and figure limits. If your story needs 8 figures to be complete, Science probably isn't the right venue. Save that for Cell or a specialty journal.

Ignoring the policy angle

If your research has implications for regulation, health policy, or societal decisions, failing to articulate these is a missed opportunity. Science values this dimension.

Technical jargon

Science's readership includes all scientists, not just your subfield. Terms obvious to you may be impenetrable to readers in other disciplines.

Hiding data and methods

Science has strong expectations around open science. Failing to share data and code when possible will be noted negatively.

Submitting during peak periods

Late December and major conference periods see submission spikes. Your paper competes for limited attention; timing matters.

Weak opening paragraph

Science has magazine DNA. If your first paragraph reads like a traditional introduction, you've already lost momentum.

Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?

The quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Science's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.

Run Free Readiness Scan →

Insider Tips from Science Authors

Science is shorter and faster than Cell

If you have a complete but focused finding, Science's format may serve you better than Cell's exhaustive approach. Not every great paper needs 10 figures.

Policy relevance gets extra consideration

If your research has implications for regulation, health policy, climate action, or technology governance, make this explicit in your cover letter and abstract.

Open science practices are expected, not optional

Sharing data and code isn't just encouraged; it's part of how papers are evaluated. Reviewers may specifically comment on reproducibility provisions.

The magazine-style approach is real

Your first paragraph should hook a curious non-specialist. Think: if this were a news story, would someone keep reading? Start with the discovery, not the background.

Science Advances exists for a reason

If your paper is technically excellent but doesn't quite reach Science's significance bar, Science Advances is not a consolation prize. It's a well-respected alternative with faster turnaround.

Technical comments matter

Science publishes Technical Comments that critique or extend published papers. Engaging constructively with the literature in this way builds reputation.

Figures must work in print and online

Science still has a print edition. Figures need to be legible at print size, not just on a large monitor.

News coverage is likely

Science papers often get media attention. Be prepared to explain your work to journalists, and consider how it might be misinterpreted.

The Science Submission Process

Presubmission inquiry (optional)

Response within 1 week

Brief description of findings, significance, and fit for Science. Not required but can save time for uncertain cases.

Full submission

Initial decision ~14 days

Complete manuscript within word limits, cover letter emphasizing significance and broad appeal, data availability statement.

Editorial triage

~2 weeks

Editors assess significance, fit, and broad appeal. High desk rejection rate (~75%).

Peer review

3-5 weeks

2-3 reviewers assessing both validity and significance. May include reviewers from outside your immediate field.

Revision and decision

Varies; Science prioritizes timely publication

Revision requests typically more contained than Cell. Focus on clarity and addressing key concerns.

Science by the Numbers

2024 Impact Factor(Clarivate JCR)	45.8
Submissions per year	~12,000
Acceptance rate	<7%
Desk rejection rate	~75%
Post-review acceptance	~40% of reviewed
Word limit (Research Articles)	3,000 words
Figure limit (Research Articles)	3-5 figures
Weekly publication	52 issues/year

Before you submit

Science accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.

The pre-submission diagnostic runs a live literature search, scores your manuscript section by section, and gives you a prioritized fix list calibrated to Science. ~30 minutes.

Run Free Readiness Scan See a sample report

Article Types

Research Article

3,000 words, 3-5 figures

Full research reports of exceptional significance

Report

2,500 words, 3-4 figures

Shorter format for focused, high-impact findings

Brevia

~1,000 words, 1-2 figures

Very short reports of particularly novel findings

Technical Comment

1,000 words

Critiques or extensions of published Science papers

Landmark Science Papers

Papers that defined fields and changed science:

Expanding universe - Edwin Hubble's observations of spiral nebulae (1929) - established the expanding universe and modern cosmology itself
HIV identified as cause of AIDS (1984) - transformed virology and revealed the need for systemic drug discovery approaches
Human Genome Project completion (2001) - enabled precision medicine and modern genomics
CRISPR-Cas9 programmable gene editing (Jinek, Charpentier & Doudna, 2012) - revolutionized genetic engineering and therapeutic development
James Webb Space Telescope observations (2022) - revealed the earliest galaxies and transformed observational cosmology in real-time

Preparing a Science Submission?

Get pre-submission feedback from reviewers who've published in Science and know exactly what editors look for.

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Primary Fields

All Natural SciencesSocial SciencesInterdisciplinary ResearchPolicy-Relevant ScienceTechnology & Engineering

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