Journal of Human Evolution

• 1. Founding And Mission

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  Academic Press launched the Journal of Human Evolution in 1972 within the United Kingdom. This monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal concentrates on publishing papers covering all aspects of human evolution. The central focus targets paleoanthropological work involving human and primate fossils. It also covers comparative studies of living species using morphological and molecular evidence. These efforts include descriptions of new discoveries and analyses of previously described material. Researchers assess the phylogeny and paleobiology of various primate species through these pages.

• 2. Publication Scope And Format

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  Original research papers occupy the primary space within each issue of this publication. Space is allocated for rapid publication of short communications regarding exciting new fossils. Lead book reviews appear alongside obituaries and review papers of exceptionally high quality. The format supports diverse content types beyond standard academic articles. Short communications allow researchers to share findings quickly without waiting for full-length analysis. Obituaries honor deceased scholars while book reviews critique recent literature in the field.

• 3. Academic Impact And Indexing

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  The journal received a 2023 impact factor of 3.656 according to available records. This metric reflects the average number of citations per article published over two years. Abstracting and indexing services catalog the content for broader academic discovery. Databases list the journal among other anthropology periodicals and Elsevier publications. Researchers rely on these indexes to locate relevant studies on human evolution topics. The presence in multiple databases ensures visibility across global scientific communities.

• 4. Editorial Leadership History

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  Andrea B. Taylor from Touro University California served as editor-in-chief alongside Mark W. Grabowski. Grabowski held his position at Liverpool John Moores University in England. Both editors worked together to maintain the standards of the monthly publication. Their tenure spanned several years before a significant disruption occurred in late 2024. They oversaw the acceptance of original research and short communications during this period. The editorial board included emeritus editors who contributed to long-term strategic decisions.

• 5. The 2024 Editorial Resignation Crisis

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  In December 2024, the editorial board resigned collectively citing actions by Elsevier. All but one associate editor joined the mass resignation along with emeritus editors. They stated that publisher actions were fundamentally incompatible with the ethos of the journal. Reasons cited include the elimination of a dedicated copy editor position. Forced restructuring of the editorial board also triggered the departure of staff members. Generative AI usage without informing editors or authors introduced formatting errors into manuscripts.

• 6. Publishing Economics And Ethics

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  JHE charges significantly more to publish than most other journals including other Elsevier titles. High publication fees raise questions about accessibility for researchers with limited funding. The ethical implications involve using generative AI in the editing process without transparency. This practice reintroduced formatting errors that had already been corrected by human editors. Critics argue that such automation undermines the quality and integrity fundamental to success. The conflict highlights tensions between cost-cutting measures and maintaining scientific standards.