Nature sub-journal Editor decision started What does it mean?

An Editor Decision Started status in a Nature portfolio journal signifies a critical and definitive phase in the manuscript review process, indicating that the handling editor has received all necessary reviewer reports and has begun formulating the final editorial decision. This status is not a preliminary step but the commencement of the decision-making synthesis. The editor is now weighing the reviewers' comments, assessing the manuscript's alignment with the journal's scope and impact criteria, and integrating their own expert judgement. For the author, this status confirms that the often-anxious period of waiting for reviewers is conclusively over, and the manuscript has entered its final administrative and editorial stage before a verdict is rendered.

The specific implications of this status are directly tied to the journal's editorial hierarchy and workflow. In Nature-branded journals, which operate with a team of professional editors rather than a purely academic editorial board, this decision is being made by a dedicated scientific editor with deep domain expertise. This editor is not merely tallying reviewer recommendations but is performing a holistic evaluation. They must reconcile conflicting reviews, determine if the authors have sufficiently addressed any major concerns from a prior revision round, and ultimately judge whether the paper meets the journal's high bar for conceptual advance, broad interest, and technical rigor. The "started" aspect implies the decision is in active preparation, but not yet finalized or sent, allowing for internal consultation or a final editorial check.

The likely outcomes following this status, and their associated mechanisms, are typically a direct rejection, an invitation to revise (either major or minor), or, very rarely, acceptance as is. A key analytical point is that the decision is now editorial, not democratic. Even unanimously positive reviews do not guarantee acceptance, as the editor retains veto power if they deem the work too incremental for the journal's remit. Conversely, a paper with mixed reviews might still be sent for revision if the editor identifies a compelling core advance that can be strengthened. The timeline from "Decision Started" to notification can vary from hours to several days, depending on the editor's workload and whether further internal discussion is required. There is no meaningful action for authors at this precise juncture; the process is entirely within the editorial domain.

Therefore, while this status indicates the end is in sight, it is fundamentally a period of editorial deliberation with significant stakes. The outcome hinges on the editor's synthesis of expert peer feedback with the journal's specific, often stringent, editorial policy. Authors should understand that this phase underscores the centralized decision-making model of high-selectivity journals, where editorial judgement on significance is as consequential as technical peer review. The subsequent decision letter will provide the definitive rationale, but the "Decision Started" status itself is a clear signal that all peer assessments are in and the final, integrative judgement is now being made.