The Royal Society published the first scientific journal

On March 6, 1665, the Royal Society’s first secretary, Henry Oldenburg, published the inaugural issue of Philosophical Transactions. Its unwieldy full title promised “some Accompt of the present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours of the Ingenious in many considerable parts of the World.”

The idea was radical for its time. Rather than guarding discoveries as private correspondence, researchers could now register findings publicly, date them, and let others scrutinize and build on the work. Oldenburg acted as publisher, editor, and clearinghouse, soliciting reports and circulating them monthly for one shilling.

It is the world’s first and longest-running scientific journal, still publishing today.

That model—dated, attributed, openly shared results—became the backbone of modern science. Concepts we now take for granted, such as priority of discovery and peer review, trace their lineage to this modest monthly pamphlet that has appeared, in one form or another, for more than 350 years.