Contribute

If you are interested in writing for Physics Capsule, the following guide will help you decide if your submission is appropriate for our website and guide you through the entire submission process. Remember that you can always get in touch with us if you have any questions not answered below.

FAQ

Who can contribute?

We welcome writings from anybody with an interest in physics, whether formally educated in the discipline or not. We accept unsolicited submissions but are strict about proper language, grammar and factual correctness. We also welcome op-eds (see more below).

Will my submission be edited?

Your submission may be edited for stylistic consistency. Besides this, we leave your work and structure untouched while fact-checking rigorously for reliability and correct for grammar and language to ensure proper quality of published content.

Can I submit opinions?

We do accept opinion pieces and such contributions will be clearly marked as non-factual prose. However, this means your article will not appear in the Learn section that is central to Physics Capsule, or in the Reports section reserved for explainers on cutting edge physics. While op-eds need not be about a topic in physics, they must in some way be related to the field of physics: commentary on academia, research methodology, philosophy etc. all make for excellent op-ed pieces that we are open to publishing.

What topics are we looking for?

Undoubtedly, your writing has to have something to do with science. And as far as science is considered, the range of articles we are looking for is as wide as science itself: if you have to report on a new finding, write on an established idea, or even if you want to write your opinion on something (see above), we would like to read it. However, when we shortlist, between articles that are about general science and articles that are about physics, the latter will be given preference. This does not apply to op-eds.

Are there any restrictions on submissions?

While we are happy to invite articles with great breadth, we do have a few basic, common sense restrictions in place. The ideal length for an article to be considered for submission is between 1,000 and 3,500 words (exceptions of course apply). This word count excluding captions, footnotes, links and markup.

Articles being sent in for submission must not have also been published elsewhere. We are strict about not encouraging articles that sound like marketing, but we do accept articles from companies or individuals representing companies so long as they clearly benefit a reader to an extent beyond which they benefit said company itself.

How will I know if my submission is accepted?

All decisions on publishing articles are made on the basis of individual articles. We read every article that comes in and discuss them in detail, so the review process may take time. However, if we think our readers would like your article and decide to publish it, we will get back to you. If we decide not to publish it, we will still get back to you. Once rejected, you may rest assured that we will not use your submission in any form and in any capacity on Physics Capsule.

Where do I send in my writing?

We want to keep our submission process simple and straightforward. All you have to do is e-mail your article in either .doc, .pdf, .tex or .txt format to [email protected]. The complete submission checklist is given after this FAQ.

Please mention your name and interest or experience in physics. We want to get to know you, the person behind the words, too so we know whom we are working with. However, please rest assured that nothing but your writing will have a bearing on the selection process itself.

Once you are selected, we will get back to you with a list of details we need from you and provide a tentative date of publishing. We appreciate your interest in working with Physics Capsule and we look forward to meeting you soon.

---

Submission checklist

Before submitting

• Prepare your article in either .doc, .pdf, .tex or .txt format.
• Include pictures in your document, with captions and credits where necessary, but keep the pictures handy separately for submission.
• Make sure you keep formulae in LaTeX or LaTeX-accessible formats and not as images or in other read-only formats.

In your e-mail body

• Write your name with title and your designation or experience with physics (not compulsory but it adds some credibility to the submission).
• Write a brief summary of your article and your motivation behind it.
• Attach your document file.
• Attach high resolution copies of images used in your article, if any.
• Feel free to include any separate notes that you would like our editors to consider while reviewing your article.

Send in your submission

• Make sure you begin your subject with [PhysCap submission] as submissions without this tag will not be flagged on our systems and may get lost.
• Send your e-mail to [email protected] (you can simply click on this e-mail to start a new message).
• That is it. Sit back and relax, and expect to hear from us in due time.

---

Terms and conditions for submissions

1. Submissions must contain only (a) content that is not subject to any copyright or other proprietary rights protection or (b) content in which the author has given express authorisation for distribution on the internet (‘Third-party content’, collectively ‘Submission’ or ‘Contribution’). Any Third-party content should be used with permission and contain such a phrase as ‘Copyright, owned by so-and-so; used with permission.’ where so-and-so is of course name of the copyright holder.

2. Neither Physics Capsule nor its affiliates are responsible for Submissions, their accuracy or their compliance with applicable laws. You—neither Physics Capsule, nor its affiliates, nor any of its representatives, sponsors, partners or the like—will be liable for any damage resulting from any infringement of copyrights or proprietary rights, or from any other harm arising from such submission.

3. By sending Submissions to us, you automatically grant or warrant that the owner of such Third-party content has expressly granted Physics Capsule the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, publish, translate, sublicense, copy, and distribute the Submissions in whole or in part worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or hereafter developed.

4. Upon request from Physics Capsule, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Physics Capsule, its affiliates, representatives, sponsors, partners and the like from all claims, liabilities, and expenses (including, without limitation, attorney’s/attornies’ fees) that arise from your use or misuse of this site, including without limitation your posting of Third-party content, and possible rejection of your Submission.

5. Physics Capsule reserves the right to reject or remove after publication any Submissions that it deems in its sole discretion to be a violation of any law or of these Terms of Use or for any undisclosed reason.