Can I submit a science news article to r/science?
Yes, when it is a professional media summary of recently published peer-reviewed research. An article that only summarizes another article or rehosts a press release is not acceptable.
Subreddit guides
r/science rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/science: all 10 public rules, sidebar requirements, community context, and posting fit before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 34,493,732
- Verified
- August 15, 2026
- Category
- Science and research communities
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- Must be peer-reviewed research: Submissions must link directly either to recently published peer-reviewed research or to a professional media summary of that peer-reviewed research.
- No summaries of summaries, rehosts, or reposts: Articles that obtain their information second-hand from other articles are not acceptable. Rehosted press releases, reposts of existing popular submissions, blogspam, and media-only submissions are prohibited.
- No editorialized, sensationalized, or biased titles: Submission titles and content must not be editorialized, sensationalized, or biased. Every title must follow the community's headline rules.
- Research must be less than 6 months old: Research must have been published within the past six months. The limit uses the research publication date, not the date of a news article or web page; when dates are ambiguous, the first availability after peer review applies, such as a Published Online or Pre-Proof date.
- No off-topic comments, memes, low-effort comments or jokes: Comments must stay on topic, constructively contribute to the discussion, or attempt to learn more. Memes, jokes, and low-effort remarks are not allowed.
- No abusive or offensive comments: Do not disparage or attack other users, or denigrate people based on group membership or inherent characteristics. The rule also covers bigotry presented through leading or insincere questions or as 'just stating facts.'
- Non-professional personal anecdotes will be removed: Comments relying only on non-professional anecdotes to confirm or refute a study will be removed. Personal details should be limited, comments should remain scientific, and peer-reviewed references are strongly encouraged.
- Criticism of published work should assume basic competence of the researchers and reviewers: Scientific critique is welcome, but it should recognize the researchers' subject expertise and that a concern may already be addressed in the larger body of work around an individual study.
- Comments dismissing established findings and fields of science must provide evidence: Challenges to established scientific concepts require appropriate peer-reviewed evidence; personal blogs and skeptic websites are not valid evidence. Comments dismissing entire scientific fields are also removed.
- No medical advice: Seeking or offering medical advice is strictly prohibited. Discussing the advantages or disadvantages of treatments, diets, or supplements is allowed when relevant and reputable evidence is provided.
Works well
- Source-backed fit: link directly to recently published peer-reviewed research or a professional media summary of that research.
- Source-backed fit: new publications and current-research coverage in astronomy, biology, medicine, physics, social science, and other scientific fields match the public description.
- Source-backed requirement: use a non-editorialized, non-sensationalized, unbiased title and research published within the past six months.
- Source-backed sidebar requirement: assign submission flair before posting.
- Rankhog recommendation: verify the peer-review status and applicable publication date at the primary source before drafting the title.
Avoid
- Formal rule: do not submit a summary of another summary, a rehosted press release, a repost of an existing popular submission, blogspam, or a media-only post.
- Public sidebar requirement: do not submit images, videos, or infographics.
- Formal rule: avoid editorialized, sensationalized, or biased titles, and do not use research older than six months.
- Formal comment rules: avoid off-topic or low-effort remarks, memes, jokes, abuse, unsupported dismissal of established science, and non-professional anecdotes offered as evidence.
- Formal rule: do not seek or offer medical advice.
What r/science Is For
Reddit describes r/science as a place to share and discuss new scientific research, including advances in astronomy, biology, medicine, physics, social science, and other fields. The public description welcomes new publications and popular-science coverage of current research.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
r/science displays 10 ordered, reportable rules: four apply to submissions and six apply to comments. The submission rules require a direct link to recent peer-reviewed research or a professional media summary, reject second-hand summaries and rehosts, regulate headlines, and limit research to the past six months.
The old public sidebar separately lists six submission requirements and seven comment requirements. Two submission requirements are more explicit there than in the 10 rule cards: images, videos, and infographics are not allowed, and every submission must have flair assigned. The sidebar also warns that repeat or flagrant comment-rule violations can lead to a ban.
What To Post
Source-backed fits and requirements are:
- Link directly to peer-reviewed research published within the past six months.
- Alternatively, link to a professional media summary that reports on qualifying peer-reviewed research first-hand.
- Use an accurate title that is not editorialized, sensationalized, or biased.
- Assign the appropriate submission flair.
- Keep comments scientific, constructive, and supported by peer-reviewed evidence when challenging established findings.
As a Rankhog recommendation, confirm the peer-review status, primary source, and applicable publication date before writing the post. This check reduces the risk of accidentally submitting a second-hand summary or research outside the six-month window.
What To Avoid
Do not submit summaries of summaries, rehosted press releases, reposts of popular submissions, blogspam, media-only posts, images, videos, or infographics. A recent news-page date cannot make older research eligible.
Comments must stay on topic and avoid memes, jokes, low-effort reactions, abuse, unsupported dismissal of established findings or whole fields, and non-professional anecdotes used to prove or disprove a study. Do not seek or offer medical advice.
Rankhog Notes
r/science does not publish a blanket self-promotion rule or a promotional exception. Its required submission formats are narrow: a company landing page or product announcement is not peer-reviewed research or a professional media summary of it. Do not infer permission to promote from the absence of a rule named “self-promotion.”
r/space is related only when the research concerns astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, astrobiology, or space exploration. Its submission rules differ, so it is not an interchangeable destination for general scientific research.
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Common questions about r/science
How recent must research be for r/science?
It must have been published within the past six months. The relevant date is the research publication date, not the date of the news article or web page; ambiguous cases use the first availability after peer review.
Can I promote a scientific product in r/science?
The published rules provide no promotional exception. A product page, image, video, infographic, or blogspam submission does not satisfy the listed format; every submission must still link directly to qualifying peer-reviewed research or a professional media summary of it.
Can I use a personal experience to discuss a study?
A comment relying only on a non-professional anecdote to confirm or refute a study will be removed. Keep personal details limited, stay scientific, and support claims with peer-reviewed research where possible.
Can I ask for medical advice in r/science?
No. Seeking or offering medical advice is strictly prohibited. Evidence-backed discussion of the advantages or disadvantages of treatments, diets, or supplements is allowed when it remains relevant.