APS Announces Physics, A New, Free, Online Publication

["Barbara Hicks" <hicks@aps.org>]

PRESS RELEASE

American Physical Society Editorial Office
1 Research Road, Ridge, NY 11961-2701 USA

American Physical Society Announces Physics, A New, Free, Online 
Publication

Contact: Amy Halsted, American Physical Society, halsted@aps.org, 
631-591-4232

Ridge, NY, September 15, 2008 - Finding the best in physics now 
becomes easier with the formal launch of Physics, 
http://physics.aps.org/ a new, free, online publication from the 
American Physical Society. Physics will highlight and provide 
commentary on selected papers from among the extensive 
publications of Physical Review Letters and the Physical Review 
series. Optional weekly email updates will keep readers apprised 
of important new articles as they appear.

The authoritative but brief reports in Physics on exciting and 
important new research will help keep researchers abreast of 
developments within and outside of their own fields and can 
catalyze interdisciplinary work. With the combined output of the 
APS peer-reviewed publications at about 18,000 papers a year, 
there is clearly a need to pull the truly exceptional papers out 
from among the merely excellent works, and place them in context.

"Our readers don't want to miss significant developments in other 
subfields of physics," says Gene Sprouse, APS Editor in Chief, 
"and our authors need and deserve more attention for their best 
papers."

Physics aims to meet those needs by means of three features, all 
with original content:

* Viewpoints - discuss and explain a particular paper and 
findings in a manner accessible to all physicists, especially to 
those outside its subspecialty.

* Trends - are longer pieces that cover a recent body of work in 
a specialized field, but also look ahead to the challenges and 
questions that fascinate that today's top researchers.

* Synopses - are staff-written summaries of papers that merit 
wider attention among physicists in all fields.

"The selection process will be rigorous but not rigid," says 
David Voss, Physics Editor. "We will highlight papers that change 
the rules of the game, afford cross-disciplinary potential, or 
report a substantial breakthrough in a particular field." 
Feedback and suggestions by email to physics@aps.org are welcome.

In its beta test phase since July, Physics has featured 18 
Viewpoints, 2 Trends, and over 25 Synopses. Future issues will 
introduce additional features and new ways for Physics to 
spotlight exceptional research.

About the APS: The American Physical Society is the world's 
largest professional body of physicists, representing over 45,000 
physicists in academia and industry in the US and 
internationally. It has offices in Ridge, NY and College Park, 
MD. For more information: www.aps.org.

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