We at Biophysics Reviews (BPR) are proud to introduce “Visuals,” a new format designed to capture the essence of biophysical research through compelling imagery and brief reports. We created “Visuals” because we strongly believe that art and science have more in common than typically appreciated.
First of all, art and science share a training mission. Artists and scientists have historically leveraged visual tools to demystify complex concepts for the uninitiated. The stained glass windows of medieval cathedrals served not just as art but as a medium to communicate theological principles to the lay public. In science, visualization has always been crucial, from elucidating DNA's structure to Faraday's magnetic field lines to the recent drawing of a black hole. The role of imagery in facilitating conceptual understanding and knowledge transfer cannot be underestimated.1 Yet, these contributions can only be acknowledged as “cover art” in the existing publishing industry. With Visuals, we aim to change that.
An additional point of contact between art and science is the shared societal responsibility: while science informs and enlightens, art evokes emotion and provokes thought. When these forms of communication combine, they deeply impact societal understanding and attitudes toward complex issues. Our era is scarred by complex global challenges that, from pandemics to environmental crises, biotechnologies are uniquely qualified to tackle. At BPR, we have long maintained that Biophysics is the quantitative underpinning of biotechnologies2 and with “Visuals,” we want key research results to resonate intellectually and emotionally with the taxpayers who made the research possible.
Ultimately, and far more personally, we believe the dichotomy between art and science is false and damaging to the inherent creativity of the practitioners.3 Many researchers harbor artistic talents, yet the rigid boundaries of traditional scientific communication have limited their ability to integrate these aspects of their identity into their professional work. Similarly, artists have long invested in scientific experimentation for their craft. Still, the emphasis on the qualitative appreciation of results has often subtracted from the innovative potential of their processes. With “Visuals,” we challenge this status quo. We provide a platform for scientists and artists interested in Biophysics to express themselves. This initiative enriches the scientific discourse and advocates for a more inclusive view of what it means to be a scientist.
In conclusion, at BPR, we believe that “Visuals” is more than a new format for scientific publication; it is a statement about the unity of Art and Science, the importance of societal engagement, and the celebration of the scientist as a whole person. We invite you to embrace this opportunity to break down the barriers between disciplines, fostering a culture of innovation, inclusion, and impact. Whether you are an artist with a passion for science or a scientist with an artistic flair, we invite you to read more about this format at this link (https://pubs.aip.org/aip/bpr/pages/about) and then submit your “Visual” to BPR. We will peer-review them and select the best for a unique inaugural Special Issue.
AUTHOR DECLARATIONS
Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
Author Contributions
Francesco Silvio Pasqualini: Conceptualization (equal); Writing – original draft (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal).
Data Availability
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.
References
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.