JEB launches a new article type for theory and modelling studies

JEB recently launched a new article type called Theory & Modelling. With this new article type, we address the need across the fields of comparative physiology and biomechanics to publish research that leverages modelling and theory to address new biological questions.JEB has published works of theory for decades (e.g. Gray and Hancock, 1955; Weis-Fogh, 1973; Sane, 2006) and many of these contributions have been highly influential. However, articles primarily focused on theory and modelling are difficult to fit within the guidelines of our Research Article and Short Communication article types, which require collection of substantial new experimental datasets. Novel theoretical frameworks often require significant development which can be challenging to present in conjunction with significant experimental datasets. Therefore, Theory & Modelling articles do not require substantial new biological datasets and permit a more flexible arrangement of section headings compared with our other paper categories. To encourage further exploration of the ideas and approaches in these papers, this article type also requires digital deposition of the datasets and non-proprietary code in forms that are readily usable by other researchers. Overall, our goal is to provide readers with new insights into the application of modelling to experimental data and exemplify how modelling can guide testable hypotheses and predictions for future research. Aligning with JEB's focus on experimental biology, we encourage authors to propose experimental approaches for future studies to test the new ideas emerging from their theory and modelling study.Five Theory & Modelling papers were published during the first year of this new article type. Two of these papers apply theory and modelling approaches to muscle contractions. Labonte and Holt (2024) introduce a dimensionless quantity called the physiological similarity index. They define this index as the ratio of kinetic energy capacity to work capacity to explain muscle performance limits across scales. Their study suggests that muscle performance is limited not by power output but instead by a characteristic kinetic energy capacity. Their modelling approaches facilitate comparisons of muscle performance in movements across size scales. Van der Zee et al. (2024) tackle the cascade of processes preceding a muscle contraction, examining the cellular and subcellular basis for rate limits in muscle contractions. Their study identifies rate-limiting processes in muscle contractions which can be tested in future experiments.Three new Theory & Modelling papers examine the principles of movement in soft-bodied animals, force transfer in bones and aerodynamics of flying snakes. Ellers et al. (2024) model the tube feet of sea stars and the soft-bodied movements of earthworms. By establishing the principles of force and displacement advantage in hydrostatic systems, their findings encourage targeted experimental data collection to rigorously test the mechanics of locomotion in soft-bodied systems. Wilken et al. (2024) use load path analysis to map force transfer in the mandible of the Virginia opossum and evaluate the impact of trabecular and cortical bone configurations. Their study highlights the utility of load path analysis for exploring skeletal form–function relationships. Finally, Yeaton et al. (2024) incorporate empirical datasets with predictive quasi-steady models to examine the aerodynamics of snake flight. They find that quasi-steady approaches underpredict snake flight performance, which indicates that snakes likely rely on unsteady aerodynamic forces for their remarkable flight capabilities. These findings encourage future experimental research to test and identify unsteady mechanisms of aerodynamic force generation in flying snakes.We hope that authors across the fields of comparative physiology and biomechanics will submit their outstanding theory and modelling studies through this new article type. For more information about publishing in this category, please see the guide to authors: https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/pages/article-types#theory.