Abstract
Dear bioelectricity community
It has been a busy few months in the field. The publication of Sally Adee's book on “We Are Electric: The New Science of Our Body's Electrome” caused a significant stir in the international media. There is a review of the book in this issue, and even school kids have been asking “how can we learn more about bioelectricity?”! The publication of Adee's book coincided complementarily with our cracking special issue on “bioelectricity of plants” published in March (and continued in a special section here). This special issue highlighted among several topics the role of bioelectric interactions in the life-sustaining process of photosynthesis.
The current issue contains articles emphasizing as ever the impact of electricity in a range of biological phenomena from bacteria and yeasts to human cancer. Yet, we would like to further broaden our coverage and attract more articles on medical, engineering, and industrial matters relating to bioelectricity. Our newly established formal association with the International Society for Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments (ISEBTT) has already brought out several exciting facets.
One intriguing example is how electroporation of grape mash can enhance the polyphenol content of the juice (including wine) that may subsequently be made into a healthier product. We hope to cover several aspects and applications of “electroporation” in future special issues. We would also like to do justice to the rich bioelectricity of the immune system. In short, we would keenly welcome suggestions from potential guest editors to oversee special issue on such important topics. We are optimistic of the future with the COVID-19 pandemic officially over and research laboratories back to buzzing with activity.
This month promises to be another landmark in the journal's 5-year history—any day now (if not already by the time you read this), we should be receiving our first impact factor (IF). Even then, however, we shall be taking this with a pinch of salt at a time when the relevance of journal IFs is recently being hotly debated, as these may be playing an indirect part in the ongoing plethora of article retractions! Needless to say, keeping up the quality and sustainability of Bioelectricity is the utmost priority of us as coeditor-in-chiefs and the editorial board as a whole.
We wish you all a healthy and fruitful summer.