Life (journal)


Life is a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal published by MDPI that was established in 2011. The editors-in-chief are Lluís Ribas de Pouplana, William Bains, Stefano Gianni and Andrew Pohorille.
Since 2014, the journal offers open peer review.
The journal covers all fundamental themes in life sciences, especially those concerned with the origins of life and evolution of biosystems. It publishes reviews, research articles, communications and technical notes.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed by Science Citation Index Expanded, Chemical Abstracts Service and Scopus.

Controversial article

In December 2011, the journal published Erik D. Andrulis' theoretical paper, Theory of the Origin, Evolution, and Nature of Life, aiming at presenting a framework to explain life. It attracted coverage by the popular science and technology magazines Ars Technica and Popular Science, which characterized it as "crazy" and "hilarious". A member of the editorial board of Life resigned in response. The publisher defended the journal's editorial process, saying that the paper had been revised following lengthy reviews by two faculty members from institutions other than the author's.