Foundations of Physics
The first issue of Foundations of Physics appeared in 1970. Henry Margenau and Wolfgang Yourgrau established the journal that month. They sought to create a space for deep questions about physics rather than just technical calculations. The publication focused on logical, methodological, and philosophical premises underlying physical theories. It covered fields like quantum mechanics, cosmology, and thermodynamics from its very beginning.
Gerard 't Hooft took over as editor-in-chief in January 2007. He was the 1999 Nobel laureate who brought significant changes to the journal's direction. That same year, the publication absorbed Foundations of Physics Letters. Alwyn Van der Merwe had edited the shorter submission journal since it began in 1988. Carlo Rovelli received an announcement as the new editor-in-chief in February 2016. This succession marked a shift toward modern theoretical frameworks.
Several Nobel Prize winners served on the editorial board during the journal's history. Louis de Broglie held a position there alongside Robert H. Dicke. Murray Gell-Mann and Abdus Salam also contributed their expertise to the review process. Ilya Prigogine and Nathan Rosen joined these distinguished names on the list. Their involvement signaled high academic standards for the early decades of the publication.
Between 2003 and 2005, Foundations of Physics Letters published papers by Myron W. Evans. These papers claimed to make well-established results of quantum field theory obsolete. Gerard 't Hooft wrote an editorial in 2008 distancing the journal from Einstein, Cartan, Evans theory. The move clarified the stance of the main publication regarding those specific claims. It represented a clear boundary between accepted physics and fringe theories within the community.
Journal Citation Reports listed a 2021 impact factor of 1.276 for the monthly publication. This number reflects how often articles appear in other scholarly works. The journal is abstracted and indexed in major scientific databases available today. Researchers rely on these indexes to locate relevant studies across fields like string theory and general relativity. The metrics demonstrate its standing among peers in theoretical physics.
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Common questions
When did the first issue of Foundations of Physics appear?
The first issue of Foundations of Physics appeared in 1970. Henry Margenau and Wolfgang Yourgrau established the journal that month to create a space for deep questions about physics.
Who took over as editor-in-chief of Foundations of Physics in January 2007?
Gerard 't Hooft took over as editor-in-chief in January 2007. He was the 1999 Nobel laureate who brought significant changes to the journal's direction.
Which Nobel Prize winners served on the editorial board of Foundations of Physics during its early decades?
Louis de Broglie, Robert H. Dicke, Murray Gell-Mann, Abdus Salam, Ilya Prigogine, and Nathan Rosen served on the editorial board. Their involvement signaled high academic standards for the early decades of the publication.
Why did Gerard 't Hooft distance Foundations of Physics from Myron W. Evans theory in 2008?
Gerard 't Hooft wrote an editorial in 2008 distancing the journal from Einstein, Cartan, Evans theory because those papers claimed to make well-established results of quantum field theory obsolete. The move clarified the stance of the main publication regarding those specific claims.
What is the 2021 impact factor listed by Journal Citation Reports for Foundations of Physics?
Journal Citation Reports listed a 2021 impact factor of 1.276 for the monthly publication. This number reflects how often articles appear in other scholarly works.