For many scientists, the most satisfying part of producing a lengthy article (aside from the hoped-for Nobel prize) is the moment when the page proofs are finally out the door to the publisher and the thought occurs they they will never have to look at the article again. But a new requirement that authors post an article abstract on the Wikipedia online encyclopedia may have them revisiting their work, or at least an abstract of it, a bit sooner than anticipated.

The science journal RNA Biology has announced new guidelines that require authors to prepare and submit an abstract of their article accepted for publication in the new RNA Families section of the Journal for posting on the Wikipedia online encyclopedia. According to an article in Nature magazine, this is the first such requirement ever imposed on authors by a science publication. Once the article is accepted for publication, the guidelines require the author to upload the abstract to Wikipedia.