1. Overview
Planet is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity, in accordance with the guidelines and core practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal adheres to principles of academic freedom, editorial independence, and research integrity.
By submitting a manuscript to Planet, authors confirm that they have read and consented to the journal’s policies and that the submission complies with all relevant ethical and procedural guidelines.
Planet maintains neutrality regarding jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
2. Communication with Respect
Planet values professional and respectful communication among authors, reviewers, editors, and staff. Aggressive behavior, harassment, bullying, or discrimination will not be tolerated. In cases of serious misconduct, the journal reserves the right to report incidents to relevant employers or authorities and may cease engagement with offending individuals.
3. Authorship and Contributions
3.1. Authorship
All listed authors must meet the authorship criteria based on the ICMJE recommendations, which include:
Substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation;
Drafting or critically revising the manuscript for intellectual content;
Final approval of the version to be published;
Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
All authors must take public responsibility for the content. The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal and ensuring compliance with submission requirements.
3.2. Authorship Changes
Changes to authorship after submission require written consent from all authors and must be approved by the journal. Post-acceptance changes are generally not permitted. Authorship disputes are referred to the authors’ institution(s) in line with COPE guidelines.
3.3. Contributions
All authors must have made substantial intellectual contributions. For multi-author papers, a contribution statement must be included, specifying each author’s role (e.g., conceptualization, methodology, writing, etc.).
4. Conflicts of Interest
Any interest or relationship, financial or otherwise, which might be perceived as influencing an author's objectivity is considered a potential conflict of interest. These must be disclosed when directly relevant to the work described in the manuscript. The corresponding author is responsible for reviewing this policy with all authors and collectively disclosing all pertinent relationships during submission.
Authors must select and complete the most appropriate statement from the options below:
1. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
2. The author is an Editorial Board Member/Editor-in-Chief/Associate Editor/Guest Editor for Planet and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article.
3. The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [Provide a detailed explanation here].
If the research had funders, the following statement must also be included, regardless of the above selection:
The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. (Modify this sentence only if the funders did have a specific role, which must then be transparently described).
5. Peer Review
Planet employs a rigorous peer review process. Most submissions are reviewed through a single-blind system, though some sections may use double-blind review. All research articles are assessed by at least two independent experts. The Academic Editor makes the final decision based on reviewer reports.
Plagiarism screening is conducted using iThenticate. Manuscripts with significant overlap (more than 40%) may be rejected.
6. Research Misconduct and Post-Publication Corrections
6.1. Research Misconduct
Planet treats misconduct—including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and duplicate publication—with utmost seriousness. Penalties may include:
Correction notices;
Article retraction;
Notification of institutional authorities;
Publication of penalty statements.
6.2. Post-Publication
Readers may submit post-publication critiques or corrections. Significant concerns may lead to an investigation, with possible outcomes including:
No change;
Correction notice;
Retraction.
Retractions follow COPE guidelines.
7. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
These policies have been introduced in response to the rise of generative AI—a type of artificial intelligence technology capable of producing text, images, audio, and synthetic data. Examples include ChatGPT, NovelAI, Jasper AI, Rytr AI, and DALL-E. As AI-assisted technologies become increasingly integrated into content creation, these policies aim to enhance transparency and provide clear guidance for authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and contributors.
Generative AI may be used to improve language and readability, with human oversight and full disclosure. AI may not be listed as an author. AI-generated images or figures are generally not permitted unless part of the research methodology, which must be clearly described.
Planet provides the following guidance to ensure the transparent and accountable use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies, particularly generative AI (AIGC), in the preparation of manuscripts.
7.1. For Authors
Literature and Intellectual Content:
AIGC outputs are based on training data and statistical models and may lack accuracy and authenticity. Therefore, authors are strongly advised against relying on AIGC for obtaining references, conceptual ideas, or scientific viewpoints. All scientific and intellectual contributions must originate from the researchers themselves.
Figures and Images:
For data-based charts/graphs, AI tools may be used only for improving visual presentation and style. The underlying data must not be altered or generated by AI.
The use of AI to generate or alter experimental results, photographs, or any images intended to represent reality is strictly prohibited.
Text and Language Polishing:
AI must not be used to generate the entire manuscript or substantial sections of intellectual content.
AI tools may be used for language polishing and improving readability. However, authors are obligated to meticulously review and edit the AI-polished text to ensure it accurately reflects their original intent, is factually correct, complete, and free from bias.
Authors should be aware that inputting a manuscript into a public AIGC tool may incorporate it into the model’s training data, potentially compromising confidentiality and future originality.
Citations:
Any citations suggested by AIGC must be individually verified by the authors for authenticity and accuracy.
AI may be used for tasks such as formatting references or sorting reference lists, but the validity of each citation remains the authors' responsibility.
Authorship:
AI or AIGC tools cannot be listed as an author or co-author.
AI should not be cited as an author in the reference list.
Declaration:
Any use of AIGC in the preparation of the manuscript must be disclosed in a dedicated section of the paper, typically before the reference list. Planet recommends using the following statement template:
AI Ethics Statement
In preparing this paper, the authors used [name of specific AIGC tool/service] for [purpose of use: such as language polishing/language editing/reference formatting, etc.]. After using this tool/service, the authors have reviewed and edited the content as necessary and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.
7.2. For Reviewers and Editors
Reviewers and editors must treat manuscripts as confidential documents. They must not upload submitted manuscripts, peer review reports, or related correspondence into generative AI tools, as this violates author confidentiality and intellectual property rights and may breach data privacy regulations. The critical assessment required for peer review and editorial decision-making is a human responsibility that cannot be delegated to AI.
8. Research Ethics and Consent
Planet follows COPE guidelines and international standards for ethical research.
8.1. Human Participants
Research involving humans must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval and informed consent are required. Patient details must be anonymized.
8.2. Cell Lines
The origin of cell lines must be stated. For human cell lines, ethical approval and consent are required.
8.3. Animal Research
Studies must follow international guidelines for animal welfare. Ethical approval details must be provided.
8.4. Plant Research
Field studies and genetic resources must comply with national and international regulations, including the Nagoya Protocol where applicable.
8.5. Dual Use Research
Manuscripts with potential misuse must clearly state risks. The public benefit must outweigh potential harm.
8.6. Sex and Gender
Authors should follow the SAGER guidelines and report sex and gender considerations where relevant.
8.7. Clinical Trials
Clinical trials must be registered in a public registry prior to enrollment. Reporting should follow the CONSORT guidelines.
9. Citations
Citations must be relevant and accurate. Excessive self-citation, coordinated citation, or gratuitous citation are discouraged. Only sources that have been read should be cited.
10. Publication Policies
10.1. Data Availability
Authors are encouraged to share data via public repositories. Data should be accessible for at least 10 years post-publication.
10.2. Copyright and Permissions
Authors must obtain permission to reproduce copyrighted material. Third-party content requires clearance prior to submission.
10.3. Licensing
Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, unless otherwise stated.
10.4. Acknowledgments
Acknowledge non-author contributors and funding sources. Avoid excessive expressions of gratitude.
11. Digital Preservation
All published content is archived with the National Library of China to ensure long-term accessibility.
12. Ethical Guidelines for Editors
Editors must handle submissions confidentially, without bias, and investigate ethical concerns as needed. They must not use submitted data for their own research without author consent.
13. Appeals and Complaints
Authors may appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints via the Editorial Office. Appeals are handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.