Sir John Maddox (1925-2009）

In this issue we celebrate the life of Sir John Maddox, Nature’s influential two-time editor, who died last week. The cover picture shows him in typical pose in the Nature office. During his tenure, in 1966–1973 and 1980–1995, he laid the foundations for Nature as it is today, establishing a system of peer review and instituting a strong tradition of journalism. In an Obituary section, Walter Gratzer, Nicholas Byam Shaw and Philip Campbell recall his career and his influence on those who knew and worked with him. An online tribute features a selection of John Maddox’s journalism covering four decades at Nature.