Content Types

To submit one of the following content types, please read the formatting details below, then follow the submission guidelines:

  • Article
  • Correspondence*
  • Review*
  • Perspective*
  • Comment*
  • Matters Arising – see specialist submission process here.

For more information on the following content types, please contact Nature Physics:

  • News & Views*
  • Books & Arts*
  • Feature*
  • World View*
  • Measure for Measure*

*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings and may only contain minimal new supporting data. As they are non-primary articles they are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.

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Article

An Article is now our standard format for all primary research papers. We strongly encourage authors to use the minimum number of figures necessary to communicate their findings, and to keep the text as short as is reasonably possible. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 3,000 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure captions.
  • Abstract – up to 200 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Extended data – up to 10 items (figures and/or tables), appearing online only.
  • Figure captions should be fewer than 350 words, begin with a brief introductory sentence, and describe the meaning of all error bars.
  • Articles can be divided into sections and subsections, but generic headings such as ‘Introduction’, ‘Results’ and ‘Discussion’ should be avoided. Headings must be fewer than 60 characters including spaces. 
  • Concluding paragraphs that do no more than summarize the conclusions presented elsewhere in the manuscript are not permitted.
  • Methods – up to 3,000 additional words, appearing online only. 
  • References – up to 50.
  • Articles include received/accepted dates. 
  • Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information, which should be referred to explicitly in the main text. 
  • Articles are peer reviewed.

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Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on issues relevant to the journal’s community. This format may not be used for presentation of research data or analysis. 

Format

  • Correspondence – between 300-800 words.
  • Display items – 1 item.
  • References – up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. 
  • Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion. 

Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers; these should be submitted as Matters Arising.

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Review

A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way. 

The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.

Format

  • Main text – 4,000-5,000 words.
  • Figures and illustrations are encouraged.
  • References – up to 100 (exceptions are possible in special cases). 
  • Citations – these should be selective and, in the case of particularly important studies (≤ 10% of all the references), we encourage authors to provide short annotations explaining why these are key contributions.
  • Reviews include received/accepted dates. 
  • Reviews are peer reviewed.

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Perspective

A Perspective is a format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature that are too technical for a Commentary but do not meet the criteria for a Review—either because the scope is too narrow, or because the author is advocating a controversial position or a speculative hypothesis or discussing work primarily from one group. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives. 

Format

  • Length – up to 3,000 words. 
  • References – up to 50.
  • Perspectives include received/accepted dates.
  • Perspectives are peer reviewed.

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Comment

A Comment is a flexible format, focusing on the scientific, commercial, ethical, legal, societal, or political issues surrounding research. Commentary articles should be topical, readable, provocative and introduce new concepts/points of view, providing a personal perspective on a matter of public or scientific importance. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. 

Format

  • Length – 1,000-2,000 words.
  • There are no specific structural guidelines.
  • Commentaries do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.). 
  • References should be used sparingly – up to 10.
  • Article titles are omitted from the reference list.

Peer review is at the editors' discretion.

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Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Physics. These comments should ideally be based on contemporary knowledge rather than subsequent scientific developments.

For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.

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News & Views

News & Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in physics, as reported in recently published papers or at scientific meetings and they are by prior arrangement only. They may be linked to articles in Nature Physics, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals.

News & Views are not peer reviewed.

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Books & Arts

Articles in our Books & Arts section are by prior arrangement only, although suggestions are welcome. These articles are not peer reviewed.

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Feature

A Feature encompasses both the technical and commercial aspects of any topic relevant to our readership. This format is intended to complement the emerging scientific developments reported in the research section, and also to provide a forum for regulatory and business topics that would otherwise not be covered in the journal. 

Nature Physics welcomes ideas for future topics.

Format

  • Length – up to 3,000 words.
  • Use of tables and figures is strongly encouraged.
  • Written in a journalistic style, accessible to a wide range of non-specialist readers. 

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World View

Articles in our World View section are by prior arrangement only, although suggestions are welcome. World Views are opinion piecess, written in a personal style, on a topic of broad community or societal significance. These articles are not peer reviewed.

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Measure for Measure

Articles in our Measure for Measure section focus on various aspects of metrology, including physical units and fundamental constants. These articles are by prior arrangement only, although suggestions are welcome. They are not peer reviewed.