Nature Communications: A Multidisciplinary Hub for Open Access Science
Since its inception in 2010, Nature Communications has established itself as a premier destination for high-impact scientific research. Published by Nature Portfolio, this peer-reviewed journal serves as a vital platform for the global scientific community, bridging various branches of the natural sciences through a multidisciplinary approach.
Unlike specialized journals that focus on a single niche, Nature Communications covers a vast spectrum of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, earth sciences, medicine, and biology. This breadth allows for a diverse exchange of ideas and fosters interdisciplinary connections that are essential to modern scientific advancement.
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Key Facts
- Discipline: Natural sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences, Medicine).
- Publication Model: Fully open access, meaning all content is freely accessible to the public.
- Impact Factor: 18.1 (as of 2025).
- Frequency: Continuous publication.
- Editorial Presence: Global offices located in London, Berlin, New York City, and Shanghai.
Evolution of an Open Access Leader
The journey of Nature Communications has been marked by a significant shift toward accessibility. While the journal began with various access models, a major transition occurred in October 2014 when it moved to an article processing charge (APC) model, requiring authors to pay a fee to ensure the work remains free for readers. By January 2016, the journal achieved full open access status, removing all subscription barriers for its content.
To support the modern research workflow, the journal introduced a deposition service in 2017. This allows authors to share preprints—versions of scientific manuscripts shared before formal peer review—of articles that are currently under consideration, facilitating earlier scientific communication.
Editorial Leadership and Structure
The journal has been guided by several notable editors-in-chief, starting with Lesley Anson, followed by Joerg Heber, Magdalena Skipper, and Elisa De Ranieri. As of 2022, the editorial leadership is divided by scientific expertise to ensure rigorous peer review:
- Nathalie Le Bot: Health and clinical sciences.
- Stephane Larochelle: Biological sciences.
- Enda Bergin: Chemistry and biotechnology.
- Prabhjot Saini: Physics and earth sciences.
The Communications Family of Subjournals
To address the growing demand for specialized research, the Communications brand expanded significantly starting in 2017. These "subjournals" focus on specific domains and offer a more targeted scope for researchers.
Specialized Branches
The expansion includes several dedicated titles:
- Communications Biology, Chemistry, and Physics: Established in 2017.
- Communications Materials and Communications Earth & Environment: Launched in 2020.
- Communications Medicine: Launched in 2021.
- Communications Engineering and Communications Psychology: Launched in 2022.
These journals typically feature lower publication fees than the flagship Nature Communications, reflecting their more specialized remits. Furthermore, the Nature Portfolio provides an automated transfer service, allowing manuscripts rejected from Nature-branded journals to be transferred to a Communications journal along with their reviewer reports.
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Indexing and Academic Recognition
The quality and reach of Nature Communications are reflected in its extensive indexing. The journal is recognized by major scientific databases, ensuring that published research is discoverable by scholars worldwide. It is indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and the Chemical Abstracts Service, among others.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| ISSN | 2041-1723 |
| Impact Factor (2025) | 18.1 |
| Access Type | Open Access (Creative Commons) |
| Indexing | Scopus, PubMed, Science Citation Index Expanded |
Frequently Asked Questions
What disciplines does Nature Communications cover?
The journal is multidisciplinary, covering the natural sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, and earth sciences.
Is Nature Communications an open access journal?
Yes, since January 2016, all content in Nature Communications has been freely accessible to the public under Creative Commons licenses.
What is the difference between Nature Communications and the Communications subjournals?
Nature Communications is a broad, multidisciplinary journal, whereas the Communications subjournals (such as Communications Biology) focus on specific scientific niches and generally have lower publication fees.
Can I transfer a rejected manuscript to a Communications journal?
Yes, the journal offers an automated transfer service that allows manuscripts rejected by Nature Publishing Group journals to be moved to a Communications-branded journal, potentially including the original reviewer reports.
What is the current impact factor of the journal?
As of 2025, the journal has an impact factor of 18.1.